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A COMPILATION OF 

1 11. NTS, su(k;estions and experience of the most 

PRACTICAL AND SUCCESSFUL 






^ 



:kBY F. W. COON.jds 



■'-^^^.■^-^^^^^.^^^^■'^^^^■■■^^^ 



PKICK i^O CKINTS. 



COIPYI^TGHT 1885. 



,..^r^^4^. 




WISCONSIN TOBACCO REPORTER STEAM PRINT 






0. M. TURNER, Prest. 0. N. FALK, Cashier. N. F. LOVEJOY. Asst. Cashier. 

CAPITAL $60,000. AUTHORIZED CAPITAL $100,000. 

DANE COUNTY BANK, 

STOUG^TON, V/ISCQNSIN. 
Organized Under the State Laws of Wisconsin, November, 1883. 



Transncts auT'inM-al l{;inkins- Business. Negotiate Farm Mort,!.'-a','e loans. Draw dral'tsoii 
all principal Cities ot Europe and America. 



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NO TOBACCO GROWER CAN AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT THE 



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GIVING FULL MARKET REPORTS 



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■4 



•HiTHE TOBjlGGO GI|OWERS' GUIDEin 



KISTOPtlO^L. 

Tobacco is grown in nearly every part of the world, yet it was knowii 
only to the Indians of North America prior to the landing of Columbus 
at the Island of Guanahani, October 12th, 1492, and it is easy to im- 
agine the surprise of the Spaniards at seeing the savages blowing clouds 
of smoke from their noses and mouths. The Indians wrapped a dry 
herb in a corn leaf, lighted one end of the roll and imbibed the smoke 
from the other. Such a roll was called by them tobacco, while the 
herb itself was called kohoba. They gav^e the name of tobacco to the 
two pipes attached to a funnel, by means of which they inhaled through 
their noses the smoke of kohoba leaves placed upon burning coals. 
They used fresh leaves of the kohoba plants for healing wounds, and 
filled the tents in which sick persons were lying with tobacco smoke to 
lesson their pains and cure them. In the council of the tribes and In- 
dian nations, in the assemblies of the warriors at the council house, and 
in later years in their parleys and treaties with the whites, the ceremony 
of smoking the pipe was of the first importance, and was the token of 
good faith. Passing the pipe around the circle of the assembly was the 
inductory ceremony of all the councils, whether for deliberation among 
themselves, or discussion and treaty with other tribes or with the whites. 
As a great discovery, Columbus took tobacco seed home with him, 
where at first the plant was deemed valuable for its medicinial proper- 
ties, but the Spaniards soon began smoking it. Then it became pop- 
ular and seed was sent to France, then Germany, and Italy, and soon 
became known among all civilized nations, and became famous as an 
approved remedy for all diseases. In Mexico, conquered in 1519, the 
Spaniards found tobacco in general use, and wherever they went thc\' 
saw the people smoking it from reeds, mixing rose leaves and aromatic 
gums with the dry herb. The Mexicans also chewed and snuffed ot- 
bacco. In the American Colonies, tobacco soon became a very impor- 



4 

rHEToHACCo (;KO\VEHs' fiUlDK. 



tant and popular crop, and much of it was shipped to the old countries. 
A farmer of Virginia has a bill of lading dated May i6, 1790. for the 
shipment of a lot of twelve hogsheads of tobacco from Rappahannock, 
Virginia, to Liverpool, England. All of the pioneers of Kentucky 
brought with them to the West, tobacco seed for the first planting ; and 
in their expeditions against the Indian villages north-west of the Ohio 
they would find tobacco growing in the fields, and packed away in the 
wigwams and cabins. 

CHEMICAL. COMPO.SITION. 

Tobacco contains an alkaloid called nicotine, C-6 H-I4 N-2, which, 
when pure, is a colorless liquid, sp. gr. 1.048 at 60 Fahr., boils at 482^, 
has an acrid odor and a burning taste ; very soluble in water, fixed oils, 
alcohol and ether. It is rarely used, and is so liable to turn brown by 
oxidation that it is next to impossible to maintain it colorless for any 
length of time. It is peculiar as being one of the liquid volatile alka- 
loids. According to Dr. Murry, tobacco contains: Nicotine, 2 to 9 
per cent.; nicotianine, 2 grains per lb.; a bitter extractiv^e principle ; fatty 
matter ; tannin and gallic acid ; a yellowish oil ; gum mucilage ; salts of 
lime, potash, magnesia, soda, ammonia, silicia and moisture. Tobacco 
leaves are remarkably rich in inorganic constituents, the proportions 
varying from 16 to 27 per cent. According to Boussingault they con- 
tain, when dry, about 1 per cent, of phosporic acid, and from 2 to 5 per 
cent, of potash, together with 2 Vi to 4^4 per cent, of nitrogen, partly 
in the form of nitrate, so that to enable the plant to flourish it must 
have a rich soil or continual manuring. Tobacco smoke, when ana- 
lyized, consists of nicotine, resui, oil, ammonia, phenol, cresote. Co, 
Co-2 HCN. and H-2 .S. 

EFFECTS OF r()B.\CC(). 

In his luminous "ireatise on Poisons" Dr. Christinson states that 
"no well-ascertained ill effects have been shown to result from the habitual 
practice of smoking." The research of Dr. Richardson, F. R. S., are of 
immense value with regard to the action of tobacco upon the health. 
He is of opinion there are no grounds for believing that smoking — of 
course, we infer, when indulged in with moderation — can produce or- 
ganic change. I'unctional distm-bances of the heart, brain and vision, 
he tells us, may be traced to its excessive use. In the course of an im- 
portant discussion which took place between Sir Roland Martin, Mr. 
Solly, Dr. Ranking and other scientific physicians, the following impor- 
tant results were arrived at respecting smoking: 1. That the habit is 
predjudical when carried to excess. 2. Tliat tobacco is innocuous 
when compared with alcohol, aild in no case worse than tea, and by the 
side of high living contrasts most favorably. It is impossible to lay 
down any rule as to the amount of tobacco which may be consumed 
with delerious effect upon the health. Wliat would be moderation to 
one is often excess to another^ according to temperament, habit, and 
individual peculiarities. Each person ought to be able to judge for 



iiiK ror.Acco (;K(»\\i:us (iiiDi:. 



himself as to what is moderation. The best time for smokiiii;' is un- 
doubtedly after a meal; and the most injurious on an empty stomach. 

ON SMOKIXn. 

A peculiarity about tobacco is that its quality depends entirely upon 
the character of the (ground which it grows. That grown on the western 
portion of the Island of Cuba is far superior to that grown in the east- 
ern section. There is a marked difference in that raised on different 
plantations in the same section, and ev^en on different parts of the same 
plantation. Havana seed planted in the Connecticut valley produces an 
entirely different quality, the leaf being remarkably thin and silky and 
almost devoid of the aroma peculiar to the Cuban product. In Virginia 
the seed produces a leaf so rich in nicotine that it is entirely unfit for 
cigars, but well adapted for chewing and smoking purposes. Mary- 
land, Ohio and Kentucky each produce very different qualities, all of 
which find special uses. The Northern grown leaf makes the finest wrap- 
pers for cigars and is shipped in large cjuantities to Havana for that 
purpose. Cigars were not known until about I 815. Previous to that 
time pipes were used exclusively. Chewing had then been in vogue to 
a limited extent for some time, while snuffing dates back almost as far 
as smoking. The first package sent to Catharine de Medici was in fine 
powder. She found that smelling it in the box affected her similarly 
to smoking, which led her to fill one of her smelling bottles with the 
dust. Her courtiers adopted the habit of snuffing small portions 
of it up their nostrils, and as the precious stuff became more plentiful 
the snuffing habit became more general, until at last a man or woman 
was not considered as in proper form unless they snuffed. The custom 
become so common in England that a snuff bo.x was no longer an en- 
signia of rank. Then it was the law prohibiting the culture of the 
plant, except for medicine was passed. About the same time a heavy 
tariff was placed on the imported article, thereby practically placing it be- 
yond the reach of the common herd and giving royalty a complete mo- 
nopoly. Since the first began to be used as a luxury there have been 
conflicting opinions in regard to its effects. The Romish Church once 
forbid its use and the Church of Kngland declaimed against it. The 
Wesleys opposed it hotly, and at one time it was considered so unclean 
as to unfit men for membership in the Methodist Church. Baptist and 
Presbyterian ministers preached against it, and societies were organized 
to oppose the spread of the habit, but all to no purpose. Parents dis- 
owned and disinherited their children because they used it, and hus- 
bands divorced their wives on account of their having contracted the 
habit of smoking. It is singular that when women get into the habit 
of smoking a pipe they prefer a strong one. There are a few men who 
have nerve enough to smoke a pipe such as a woman likes when she has 
become a confirmed smoker. When they first begin puffing cigars they 
prefer them very mild, but it is not long until they want them black 
and strong" and lots of them. The first che--' or first ciear is alwa\'s 



THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 



remembered, for they almost invariably produce a sickness only paral- 
leled by that of seasickness, and, like the latter, the victim is not at all 
frightened, but wants to die, or, at least, does not care whether he lives 
or not. As soon as the attack is over, however, he is ready to try it 
again. By patience and persistence the nauseating effects are overcome 
and the deathly sickness gives place to delightful sensations. 

Spanish and Portugese ladies of all ranks smoke cigarettes — little 
cigars, not those vile paper things that pollute the air, but fine flavored 
little cigars. They are also used to a considerable extent in France, 
but the custom has never prevailed to any great extent either in Eng- 
land or America. The pipe is less popular among ladies in this coun- 
try now than it was fifty years ago. In the Southern states, however, 
the women of the middle and lower classes nearly all smoke or rub 
snuff, and not a few do both. Storekeepers in many parts of tne South 
buy snuff by the barrel and keep it under the counter with the sugar 
and coffee. 

On the other hand, smoking fouls the breath, injure the sense of 
taste, vitiates the atmosphere of a room and entails unnecessary expense. 
Chewing is more filthy than smoking but not so expensive. Physi- 
cians are not agreed as to which is the more harmful. The better way 
to learn the bad phases of the tobacco habit is to ask some female hater 
of the weed who possesses the faculty of expressing her mind freely. 
Her advice will be never to use it in any form, and if you do, quit it en- 
tirely, which advice is sound, and no one will ever regret heeding it. 

A PLEA FOR THE SMOKER FROM A SANITARY POINT OF VIEW. 

So much has been written upon the question of tobacco, pro and con, 
that any attempt to discover new and untrodden ground would almost 
seem a hopeless task, altogether beyond the range of the explorer. It 
has had its votaries inumerable, who have seen in it a universal pana- 
cea, competent to deal with all the ills suffering humanity is heir to, 
mental and physical,on the other hand, it had its opponents, those who, 
contrawise, have attributed to its use influences of no common or trifl- 
ing order. In this, as in all such like cases involving great and impor- 
tant truths, the ultimate standpoint of appeal centres in the question of 
experience, and concerning which there is little need of citation in an- 
swer to the graver charge at the bar of public opinion ; once there its 
record would, as on many previous occasions, attest to facts difficult of 
contra version, facts too often in juxtaposition to argument unsuj)ported 
except by hyposesis of the most flimsy character. It has occurred to 
us, however, that the search for new paths, or subject matter in con- 
nection with the problem, is not so hopeless as might on first 
sight appear, and in the exploration we have availed ourselves of 
some of the more recent investigations and discoveries of science, which 
have invested the route with many new points and passages of interest 
and which we would fain think will bear fruit of considerable import- 
ance, That tobacco smoke has played in the history of disinfectants 



THE TOBACCO GROWERS CUinE. 5 

L ^ 

is an assertion by no means new, and the statement to that effect will 
take none of our readers by surprise, nevertheless, the assumption has 
had little or no solid resting ground as a basis and in support of such 
claims. It has been reversed for modern chemistry to establish the 
broad fact and to teach us that we are justified in regarding the pro- 
ducts arising from the combustion of tobacco (in other words, tobacco 
smoke) as an actual and powerful antiseptic, and as such from its diffu- 
sive character, a simple and effective sanitary aid, more potent and real 
in dealing with "germs" than scores of nostrums and preparations ad- 
vocated for such purposes. Our grounds are simply as follows : In 
the combustion of tobacco, and as brought about in the act of smok- 
ing, the products of decomposition envolved consist mainly of a series 
of powerful organic compounds known to chemists as the Pyridine 
Bases, or Alkaloids, conjointly with traces of Nicotine ; to the latter 
compound has been attributed the entire narcotic properties of tobacco 
smoke in its physological action on the animal economy. Chemists, 
however, are now pretty well agreed that the action referred to is chief- 
1}' due to the presence of the basic substances named. And it becomes 
highly interesting to learn that in the case of pipe smoking the more 
highly volatile and intoxicating pyridine is evolved, whilst that of cigar 
smoking little pyridine, but more of the associated collidine, is formed 
and given off; but these facts are not the only ones springing from the 
study and investigation of the chemi.st ; it has long been known that the 
so-called pyridine bases numbering nearly a dozen distinct compounds, 
and as alread}^ stated arising from the destructive distilation of tobac- 
co, also exist in certain well-known coal-tar products and allied bodies, 
notably creosote. VVe need scarcely remind our readers J,hat the latter 
substance has long enjoyed a world-wide reputation both as a disinfect- 
ant and antiseptic, and has found important application and uses in the 
technical arts ; the efficacy of creosote has invariably been attributed 
to the presence of carbolic acid, but quite recently it has been demon- 
strated, and beyond much doubt, that the true antiseptic character of 
the fluid has been due far more to the contained alkaloidal bases than 
to carbolic acid ; indeed, carefully compounded experiments have prov- 
ed that these compounds occupy a position in the very foremost ranks 
of antiseptic, minute proportions of which completely sterilize sub- 
stances prone to decomposition and the formation of "germs." So much 
for the broad facts and deductions of chemistry, and which, we venture 
to think, will not prove unproductive interest to the smoker. In the 
cloud arising from his favorite clay, and in the aroma of the "fragrant 
weed," he will discover more than a mere solace for his troubles and 
woes, or an hour passed in visions of dreamland ; he will regard it as a 
charmed atmosphere, charged with elements of antiseptic value and 
within which he may enjoy comparative safety and immunity when in 
the presence of noxious emanations. Armed with the knowledge thus 
gained, ma)' we not say he will find there are periods and times atten- 



THE TOBACCO (IROWF.RS' ClU DE. 



dant upon the daily walks of life in which his pipe may play the part 
not only of a friend indeed, but of a real friend in need ? 

EXTENT OF TOBACCO PRODUCTION. 

The following statistics show the production of tobacco in some of 
the leading states in the year 1 880. Since that time there has been 
a large increase of production : 

1)>S 

Kentucky . 171,120,840 

Virginia 80,000,000 

Connecticut 14,044,052 

Illinois 3,935.825 

Indiana _. ... 8,872,842 

Maryland 26,000.000 

Mas.sachusetts 5 ,369,436 

New York 6,481,431 

North Carolina -. . 26,986,213 

Ohio • - 34,735>235 

Pennsylvania 36,943,272 

Tennessee 28,365,052 

West Virginia 2,296,141 

Wisconsin 10,908,423 

Missouri 12,015,657 

The tobacco of the Southern states is exported to a great extent. 
What is retained in the country is manufactured in':o fine cut an:l plug, 
used for smoking and chewing. The tobacco of the Northern states is 
mostly manufactured into cigars ; a comparatively small amount of it 
is now exported. We more particularly represent the tobacco used for 
cigars. Previous to the year 1881 the domestic tobacco furnished all 
the wrapper leaf needed by our cigar manufacturers and was used al- 
mo.st exclusively to cover cigars. Only about one-half of an average 
crop of tobacco is fitted for wrappers and that grade alone can be pro- 
duced at a profit by farmers. 

THE GROWTH OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY. 

It is a well known fact that the soil and climate of the United States 
are peculiarly adapted to the successful growth and production of fine 
tobacco. It is therefore one of the leading productions of our agricul- 
ture in several of the most important states and is rapidly growing in 
prominence in several others. In tobacco production a great amount 
of labor is employed all through the year in its growth and preparation 
for market. Tobacco is grown to a greater or less extent in every state 
and it is a crop largely growing in importance in fifteen of the mo.st 
populous states of the Union, as one of the chief money crops of the 
farmers upon which they depend for a living. With the expectation 
of its continued successful production, farmers have invested millions 
of dollars in buildings for curing tobacco, warehouses, sorting rooms 
and appliances to fit the crop for market ; these would be mostly useless 
for any other farm purpose. While its production has been kept up, 
the value of farm lands and other property has been greatly enhanc- 
ed. 



THF. TOBACCO CiROWKKS Cl'lDE. 



In the amount of tobacco grown in Wisconsin stands second in the 
Hst of cigar leaf growing states, being led only by Pennsylvania, and 
with the natural increase of the past five years for the coming five, the 
Badger State promises to rank first in the list. The increase of this 
industry in the past ten years will prove interesting statistics. The 
following figures are taken from the reports of the county clerks to the 
seceratary of state, ^s required by law each year : 

Acres. 

1874 1,4'14 

1875 4,399^ 

1876 ... 3,296 

1H77 4,842 

1878 4,6.53 

1879 7,440 

1880.... 13,359 

18SI 12,.588 

1882 14,924 

1883 _12,307 

1884 15,836 

Thus in ten years the acreage of this crop has increased from 1,444 
acres to 15,836 acres. Tobacco is now grown in thirty counties, the 
following table gives the amount in each, as shown by the records in 
the office of the secretary of state : 

TOBACCO GROWING IN 1 884. 

Acres. 

.Adams 2 

lirown 2 

("ohimliia 104 

Crawford 10 

Dane 7>58S 

Dodge 14 

Kond du Lac i 

<;i"ant 37 

(Ireen 194 

( ; reen I ^ake 3 

Iowa 6 

Jackson 5 

fefferson 45S 

I .a Crosse 2 

La Fayette 4 

M anitowoc 13 

M arathon 4 

Marquette 14 

Milwaukee 30 

( )conto 2 

Pierce 2 

Richland 17 

Rock 7,084 

Sauk 18 

Sliawano . . I 

X'ernon 136 

Walworth 42 

Waukesha 6 

Waushara 2 

Winnebago 38 



Total 15,836 

TOBACCO GROWIX(i IN WISCONSIN. 

The name of Pomeroy is intimatel)' connected with the history of 



TFiE TOBACCO liKdWKKS liULDE 



tobacco growing in the West. In the \'ear 1838 Thomas and Ralph 
Pomeroy raised the first crop of Connecticut seed leaf every grown in 
Wayne township, in the Miami valley, Ohio. About twelve years later 
the two brothers, Ralph and Orrin, and a cousin, Chester Pomeroy, 
journeyed across the country by wagon to Rock county, Wisconsin, 
taking the Connecticut seed with them. The)' settled upon a beautiful 
prairie two miles south of Pldgerton, where two of the brothers still re- 
side. Ralph Pomeroy grew his first crop of Wisconsin tobacco on 
rented land on the prairie near Syene, Dane county, in 1854. The 
next season he located at his present home in Fulton. Chester Pome- 
roy grew his first tobacco crop in the State in 1857, and a crop has been 
grown on the farm every year since that date. A still earlier date is claimed 
by S. S. Richmond, of Ea.st Tro)% Walworth count}', who raised a crop 
of tobacco in 1 847 and on each succeeding }'ear, except 1 860. His 
crop was generally small and sold to manufacturers. During these 37 
years the highest prices realized was 35 cents, and the lowest 7 cents 
per pound. From the beginning of this industr}- in the State as out- 
lined, the tobacco interest has grown until it now stands to-day onl}' 
second in the list of cigar leaf producing states. For the first few years 
those engaged in tobacco culture met with but indifferent success. It 
took years to establish a market and to demonstrate that Wisconsin to- 
bacco was of more than average quality. A few New York buyers 
controlled the market and held the prices down, so that the grower re- 
alized but a small proportion of the profits on his industry. To free 
this monopoly the "Wisconsin Tobacco Growers' Association" was 
formed and samples of Wisconsin leaf were sent to all the large man- 
ufacturers, opening the eyes of the trade to the fact that Wisconsin to- 
baccco was equal if not superior to the seed leaf of any other state. 
New buyers came into the market, and from that time on the area de- 
voted to its culture increased with each succeeding year. In 1874 the 
total acreage reported by the different county clerks was i ,444 acres. Ten 
years later the same records show an increase to 15,836 acres. About 
fourteen-fifteenths of the entire crop is cultivated in Dane and Rock 
counties, of which Dane has 7,585 and Rock, 7,084 acres. The towns 
of Christiana, Pleasant Springs, Dunkirk, Dunn and Albion, in Dane 
county, and F"ulton, Porter, Union, Janesville and Center, in Rock, are 
the leading tobacco towns. The village of Edgerton being the geo- 
graphical center of the tobacco di.strict, was the first shipping point and 
market, and is yet the principal receiving place for this product. There 
are located there twenty-five packing houses, which handle from 8,000 
to 20,000 cases each year. In addition there were ten new warehouses 
constructed. Stoughton has fifteen, Jane.sville sixteen, Ev^ansville 
three, and Madison four tobacco warehouses, while two are located at 
Milton Junction, one each at Milton, I"t. Atkinson, Albany, Marshall, 
Sun Prairie, De Forest, Brooklyn, London and two at Deerfield. Thus 
there are not less than seventy packing houses in the State. 



'llli: I'OliACCo (iKoWKKS CUIDK, 



THE EDUCATED TOHACCO GROWER PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS. 

{('or. Haldifinxt'ille, N. Y. Jnunial.) 

Whoever engages in growing tobacco or any other product on a 
farm ought to be as thoroughly educated and posted in the various 
necessary educational branches, as any person who makes a regular 
profession his special business. He who thinks an inattentive farmer 
can grow crops as well as he who is agriculturally and practically 
educated, labors under a great mistake. It cannot be possible that an 
ignorant man, uneducated and unread, can cultivate a piece of tobacco, 
raise it from the seed, and carry it through all the various stages re- 
quired to make it merchantable for the world as well as he who poss- 
esses proper attainments w ith proper learning and intelligence, the two 
indi\'iduals being equal in all other respects aside from their education. 
All must admit that there is no place for slothful and slovenly people 
on a farm. A skillful farmer should really have more knowledge than 
tile so-called professional men in one sense of the word ; for the trained 
agriculturist is presumed to understand manual and mental labor, and 
ought to have mental culture fitting him properly for raising his 
crops in an intelligent manner. This mental culture coupled with prac- 
tice is what makes him a professional agriculturalist. Why not a pro- 
fessional tobacco grower as well as a professional lawyer or architect? 

Placing two men side by side — every thing else being equal, the one 
an intelligent, reading and educated man, the other an uneducated and 
non-reading man — which one, we ask, would be most likely to get along 
in the world, and which of these gentleman would most probably suc- 
ceed in growing the best and most thoroughly cultivated crop of to- 
bacco ? The reading man of course — the one who reads the agricul- 
tural papers and books on practical agj "iculture. There are hundreds 
of tobacco growers and farmers in the/ country who would make just 
as good doctors and lawyers, with good opportunities, as many of those 
who are now practicting these professiCns. It is a mistaken idea that 
farming does not require brains. The/miount of brain work necessary 
to produce good crops and to making farming a paying business is just 
as great, indeed it would seem to be greater than that deemed necess- 
ary to be expended in any of the professions now-a-days. 

Intelligence, skilled workmanship, and science are rapidly growing 
among the farmers of this period. The necessity for education and a 
large degree of reading of the right kind among tobacco growers and 
farmers is quite as apparent and needful as among college professors. 
There is much to be learned by reading the well conducted agricultur- 
al papers and works published at this time ; but he who would learn 
must read and observe, study and experiment, introduce new and prac- 
tical systems of farming, try new varities of seed, new and considerate 
methods of tobacco culture, new methods of curing the leaf to advan- 
tage, and observe what others are doing and how they do it, who are 
successful growers. 



lO THE TOBACCO OROWKKS GUIDE. 



The well read and observing tobacco grower would hardly venture 
now-a-days to top his tobacco high ; he would top it low and sucker it 
well to succeed. Nor would he build a shed for curing it unless he 
first made inquires and observed how the best ones were made. He 
w ould follow the most approved methods of assorting and packing, and 
post himself, in a thorough manner a.s to the best plans to adopt by 
reading and inquiring how to produce one ton of leaf to the acre in- 
stead of twelve hundred pounds of inferior tobacco. 

In everything we do — in all our labor both mental and physical — in- 
telligence and reading seem so essential that it is like folly for the most 
humble farmer to do without agricultural papers and books. One needs 
to read these in order to keep up with the times and know what is go- 
ing on in the world in an agricultural point of view. We must be 
practical, too, and adopt method, system and common sense if we would 
make successful tobacco growers. 

SOIL FOR TOBACCO. 

The wide variation in the character of soils on which tobacco is 
grown in seed leaf producing states makes it outside the province of 
this work to lay down an}' rule that would hold good in all sections as 
a guide in the selection of soils for tobacco. As a general proposition, 
any well drained soil in any part of the United States capable of pro- 
ducing Indian corn can produce tobacco. By this statement we 
would not have our readers infer that tobacco can be grown with suc- 
cess, or at a profit wherever Indian corn is produced, but the proposi- 
tion that it will mature and ripen, holds good. The heavier and darker 
soils invariably producing the darker types. There are three classes 
of soils recognized by the tobacco growers of Wisconsin. First, the 
calcareous sandy; second, clayey soils, light and dark; and third, 
prairie soils. The first produces a plant that matures a week or more 
earlier than the others ; the leaf is apt to be light in color, elastic, thin 
and silky. On quite sandy soil the leaves often grow rough, lacks ten- 
acity and very often devoid of the main esstential, gum or finish, as it 
is more commonly called. Clay soils, varying from light to hea\'y, grow 
a good quality when not too heavy and well drained.. The timber 
growth of this soil with a hazle under-growth, after the second or third 
crop, will produce the very finest quality of leaf grown in the State. 
On heavy clay the tobacco seems inclined to grow too thick and co^irse. 
The third class of soils, prairie, produces b)- far the largest proportion 
of Wisconsin leaf It is naturally rich, deep and black and when well 
drained as most of it is, the very best results are obtained. It produces 
a leaf large in size, soft and silky, even in color and rich in gum or 
finish. The soil lies loose and requires less cultivating than clay lands 
and is less liable to wash. The largest yields per acre is obtained from 
])rairie soils. Tobacco grown on new land has a harsh, woody, stiff 
leaf, inclined to be light colored and contains but little gum. The 
working of the soil one or two seasons with an application of fertilizers 



THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. II 

changes the character of the leaf, gives it elasticity fit for wrapping" pur- 
poses. A dark soil will sustain a more vigorous existence in the plant 
than a light soil, other things being equal. The reason for this is ap- 
parent when it is considered that dark colors absorb rays of light and 
light colors reflect them. The more sunlight that can be absorbed by 
the earth and the plant, the more vigorous the growth. The myriad 
rootlet mouths of the plant will discover the hidden ray and devote it to 
its use. The dark colored soils are warmer in cold periods, and they 
are colder in hot, by reason of the lessened reflections from the surface. 
Every argument is in fa\'or of the dark soil. Witness the richness in 
growth of the soils made dark by the carbon of decaying vegetable 
matter in the great West and in bottom lands generally. The color 
partially accounts for the vigor of the soil. 

On all dark soils the season begins earlier and lasts later. The dark 
soils imprison the sunshine by absorption and hold it for gentle distri- 
bution to the need of the plant, while from the light soil it rebounds 
with arrowy and destructive intensity. In the reflection of the sun's 
rays from any object they are gathered together and are more severe 
than the direct rays. The burning glass is an example. 

The lay of the land to be selected for a tobacco field is a matter of 
small importance providing it is well drained and sufficiently level to 
prevent washing. Moderate slopes running to the east are preferred 
by some as the effect of the early morning sun is visible upon growing 
tobacco. Slopes jutting upon water courses and lakes are considered 
good sites as the influence of the water often prevents early frosts. 
Avoid low sags or cold, wet fields as being the first to be touched with 
frost. Select for your tobacco field the richest land your farm contains, 
and if not naturally rich, make it so artifically — you cannot get it too rich. 
Manures upon tobacco lands pays better returns than upon any oth- 
er crop. 

DOES TOBACCO EXHAUST THE SOIL? 

The question is frequently asked if tobacco does not impoverish the 
soil, and none can be more easily answered. In Virginia thousands of 
acres have become barren, but careless farming did it. The farms of 
Lancaster county produce better crops to-day than they did twenty 
)'ears ago. The land is richer and more productive. Not an acre lies 
waste. From three to five per cent, of this land is thought as much as 
a farmer should put in tobacco. It is very heavily manured, and the 
crop of wheat, which nearly always follows tobacco, is better on toba'cco 
ground than elsewhere on the farm. The manure makes the two crops. 
The farmers understand the situation. Should they observe deteriora- 
tion in their lands this crop would at once be given up. But under the 
present system deterioration seems impossible. Thirt}' years of tobacco 
farming has steadily improved their farms. 

The Pomeroys in the town of Fulton, Rock county, have raised to- 
bacco on the same lands e\'ery year since 1858 and their farms are 



12 TIIK TOBACCO CRUWKKS (iUlDK. 



to-day richer and more productive than tliirt)- years ago. 

The \'alue of manure depends upon what is fed : Too often farmers 
in feeding have no regard to this tact. They look upon the worth of the 
manure pile according to its size alone, not bearing in mind that ma- 
nure from certain kinds of feed is twice, three times or ten times more 
valuable than that from other kinds. To be sure, it is well known that 
hen manure or the contents of privy vaults are very rich as fertilizers, 
but this is often attributed to the mere fact that hens and human beings 
are the producers instead of, more correctly, that the food from which 
these come is very rich in those properties that go to the making of 
rich manure. The manure from beans, peas, linseed cake, malt spirits 
and wheat from bran fed to animals is worth comparatively from twelve 
to twent)' times more per ton than that from carrots, turnips, mangles, 
parsnips and potatoes similarl}' fed. That from cotton-seed cake is ex- 
ceedingly rich, being in all essential properties worth nearly thirty 
times as much, on an average, as that from the roots named. The 
grains, oats, wheat, Indian corn and barley yield manure worth about 
one-half or less for a given weight, than that from the articles first 
named above. That from clover hay is worth rather more per ton than 
that of any of the grains just mentioned, while from meadow hay is 
about equal to these, The manure from one ton of clover is worth as 
much as the manure from a ton of wheat straw and a ton of corn stalks 
together. Bean-straw^ and pea-stra\\' are worth a half more per ton for 
adding value to the manure heap, by teeding than that of the straw 
from the cereals such as wheat, barley and oats. 

Clover is exceptionalU' useful on wornmit soils. Its varied offices 
restore the finer elements essential to the best forms of plant growth, 
but the use of it as a substitute for manure is a howling delusion. It 
will no more take the place of annual fertilization than a drink of wa- 
ter will satisfy a hungry man. Used instead of manure it only giving 
the ground its own — it can only put back what it takes out. 

It is a well attested f-dct that tobacco grown on land where clover is 
substituted for manure is invariably thin and weak, lacking gum, body 
and substance. In short, it is a ghost, deficient in everything that goes 
to make up all that is desirable in cigar leaf 

TOBACCO STEM.S AS A FERTILIZER. 

The four leading constituents of plant food which must be present in 
all producti\e soil, it is well known, are nitrogen, potash, pliosphoric 
acid and lime. Hy a continuous course of cropping, these elements 
can be so reduced that the result, a barren soil, is sometimes seen even 
in this highly favored Connecticut valley. Now it has been demon- 
strated over and over again that such soils can be restored to their or- 
iginal condition of fertilitiy by a judicious application of the lacking- 
elements of fertilization and that each and all of these can be easily 
furnished to the soil in the form of animal manures and commercial 
fertilizers. But some other substitute is needed in places where it is 



THE TOBACCO (iKUWKKi GUIDK. 



not convenient to procure large supplies of expensive animal manures, 
and immediate results are desired. Something is demanded that is 
economical and efficient. I have found several good substitutes which 
have worked well in producing excellent crops and in keeping up the 
fertility of the soil. 

For several years past I have experimented extensively with cotton- 
seed meal, which contains a large percentage of nitrogen, lime, bone, 
meal and tobacco stems in bales procured from cigar manufacturers. 
In addition to the large amount of potash and lime, the stems contain 
also a small percentage of nitrogen and phosphoric acid. Their ac- 
tion on the soil above the amount of ash constituents they contain, in 
furnishing organic matter (humus) to the soil, is like that produced b)' 
stable manure, operating as a mulch, retaining moisture and the valuable 
ammonia which under ordinary conditions has a constant tendancy to 
escape into the atmosphere, also preventing to a great extent the in- 
jurious effects of a long season of drouth. I have obtained excellent 
crops of tobacco by the combination of cottonseed meal, bone, lime 
and stems. Their analysis proves that the)' two together combine the 
elements of an almost perfect manure that will produce superior crops 
at less cost than can be obtained in any other way known to the writer. 
i'hc tobacco stems alone, I have proved to my own satisfaction, to be 
a good fertilizer for potatoes on poor, worn-out, neglected soil during 
the last two years. 

It is an accepted maxiom among farmers that "like produces like," 
and the leaf stem being akin to the leaf in tobacco, then it follows 
that tobacco stems should furnish what is needed to grow tobacco. 
Their value as a fertilizer is well known to florists and market garden- 
ers in the vicniitv of great cities. — S. G. Hubbard, Hatfield, Mass. 

MANURKS FOR TOBACCO. 

The Harrisburg Independent makes the following deliverance on a 
\'ery important matter to farmers. It does not contain much that is 
not well known to practical tobacco growers, nor does it very cleverK' 
point out to novices the best method of manuring ; but we print it as a 
contribution to a subject that is very imperfectly understood, and upon 
which there is a wide difference of opinion, even among the most suc- 
cessful tobacco growers : 

"It is claimed that the tobacco growers of Lancaster county and oth- 
er portions of this State are dissatisfied with the result from the use of 
artificial fertilizers on tobacco. Whether the farmers or tobacco grow- 
ers in general make this .statement, or whether it comes from a few, is 
not clear, but several agricultural journals are advocating the use of 
barnyard manure only for tobacco. A look over the fields will con- 
vince tobacco growers of the fact that they have been placing their con- 
fidence almost entirely in superphosphate. This substance, while ben- 
eficial to a certain extent, is onh' a partial fertilizer. Tobacco requires 



14 THE TOBACCO CiROWKKS GUIDK. 



a large amount of potash, and in tobacco regions of Virginia and North 
CaroHna the growers have made the best crops by burning brush over 
the fields in order to get the ashes. Very seldom do they use any ma- 
nure, and this course has done inuch to depreciate the value of the 
soil. Magnesia is another substance demanded by tobacco, usually 
left out in applying fertilizers. The crude sulphate of magnesia (im- 
pure Epsom salts) is a cheap article, the market price seldom going be- 
yond half a cent per pound. It furnishes a soluble ingredient for to- 
bacco plant food. Bulk does not always mean value, nor does a liber- 
al application of manure made from straw and other inferior material 
prove as satisfactory as that from animals in good condition and fed on 
grain, good hay and oilcake. The manure heap, if it is of good qual- 
ity, contains usually all the elements (ov plant food, and when fertilizers 
are used they should be prepared in strict compliance with all that is 
demanded with the formula. It should be borne in mind by novice to- 
bacco growers that so far as the quality is concerned, new land pro- 
duces a different effect from old ; wet seasons from dry ; good cultivation 
from bad ; heavy land from light ; new manures from well rotted, and, 
finally, that if the slightest mistake is made in curing the crop damage 
is done. Thus it can be seen that there is much to be taken into con- 
sideration before the tobacco growers can make a just comparison be- 
tween artifical and barnyard manure for use on that crop." 

SALT INJURIOUS. 

I desire to remind the growers of tobacco that the use of salt in con- 
nection with the growth of tobacco will destroy the burning qualities 
of the leaf A few years since a neighbor who used quite an amount 
of salt and plaster on his tobacco land was quite elated over raising as 
nice looking tobacco as I ever saw. His disappointment was at its 
height when it was found that the tobacco would not burn. A cigar 
rolled from this leaf would, when smoked, look like a piece of .stove 
pipe. Salt will always produce the same effect upon tobacco, hence 
growers should look sharp at some of the special fertilizers prepared 
especially for use that they do not injure their crops by the use of sub- 
.stance. It is rumored that some of the compounds of fish and potash 
contain salt, and perhaps this may be the case with some of the chem- 
ical preparations sold as fertilizers. 

ON FERTILIZERS. 

The tobacco plant quickly shows improvement from any food gix-en 
it. If the bed be but slightly moistened the young plants will bristle 
with gratitude, a sprinkling of wood ashes will clean and strengthen, 
and judicious supply of liquid manure will cause them to spread and 
crowd and grow vigorously. An occasional watering with milk-warm 
soapsuds is benefical. and the most acceptable food of all, in this lime- 
stone soil, is a moderate application of poultry manure. Of course 
practical planters understand that young plants, like young children 



THK TOBACCO GROWERS' GUIDK. I 5 



will appropriate too much rich food if placed within their reach, and 
that too great of tit bits will injure. 

In the ordinary plan of rotation of crops as is the practice with all 
Western farmers, it is found that poultry manure is one of the most valu- 
able fertilizers that can be used, yet on a majority of farms it is allowed 
to waste without an effort being" made to save it. There is no difficulty 
or expense in cooping" poultry at night through the winter, and chang- 
ing their roosts outside for the summer, so that the droppings may be 
saved. Poult^re manure, being nearly free from water, is more con- 
centrated than that from the stable, and being rich in ammonia decom- 
poses very rapidl)-. It should never be used alone, but can be proper- 
ly prepared with road dirt or muck. One part of the manure should 
be composted with two parts dirt, and the whole thoroughly mixed. 
There are two methods of preserving this manure. One is to mix as 
above and keep perfectly dry ; another and an excellent method is to 
keep the mixture always moist with strong soapsuds, not clear water, 
which not only hastens the process of decomposition but fixes the ac- 
tive principles by direct union with the fat acids. Wood ashes are un- 
fit for mixing with poultry droppings, as potash in the caustic state rap- 
idly liberates ammonia. As a starter for young plants no other fertil- 
izer will do so well as a handful of this mixture placed in the hill. Af- 
ter the plants are well underway they may. with benefit, be treated to 
a good handful scattered around the hill. 

Another source of waste about the stables and barnyards, is the 
liquid manure that accumulates from rainfall in the low places, some of 
which may leach through manure still unremoved, and is rich in fer- 
tilizing material. This should not be allowed to go to wa.ste. Any 
litter that is convenient should be applied as an absorbent. No labor 
upon the farm pays better than to save the urine of all the farm stock by 
means of absorbents. In ordinary farm practice this is lost, no effort 
is made to save it. Cisterns need not be built, for they are expensive, 
but a good plan is to have convenient to hand a supply of marsh sod, 
or sawdust, or straw, as an absorbent that should be cleaned up 
every two or three weeks and thrown upon the manure heap. With 
care like this, splendid compost can be made, and the plan once tried 
will not be abandoned. Tobacco growers are rapidly learning the val- 
ue of fertilizers, and that the checking of this great waste is one of the 
most profitable of a farmer's winter work. 

As to the application of fertilizers, there is in the tobacco field de- 
cided objection to surtace spreading" unless the manure is to be plowed 
under within reasonable time. Scattering manure broadcast unless it 
is very plenty, it is a loss to the tobacco. Manuring the hill and mixing 
thoroughly with the soil, although more laborious, will pay well. 

The tobacco plant is a surface feeder, that is the smaller roots occupy 
the soil nearer the surface and will feed and thrive better upon the fer- 
tilizer that is covered with but two or three inches of soil to save it. 



l6 THE TOBACCO GROWKKs' GUIDK. 



In times of drouth the roots will penetrate much deeper for moisture, 
or will seek a fertilizer wherever it may be placed; but to simply sup- 
ply nourishment for the one crop of tobacco, the soil need not be en- 
riched to any considerable depth down, but the owner of the land de- 
siring to keep it in good condition, will of course, endeavor to mix the 
manure all through the soil as deepl>' as either corn or tobacco roots 
will go. A thorough farmer tills the soil for all crops alike one year 
after another, plowing deep, stiring the soil with the manure, providing 
a rich mellow condition for the roots, large and small, to gather moist- 
ure and sustinence. 

The American Agriculturist says : It is often difficult to decide — 
for barn3^ard or stable manures, or for any artificial fertilizer — whether 
to put in the hill or broadcast, and whether to apply it on the surface 
or bury it deeply. If not strong enough to injure the first tender 
roots, a little manure at hand gives the plant a good send-off, like 
nourishing food to the young calf or other animal ; the aftergrowth is 
much better if the young animal or plant is not dwarfed by imperfect 
or insufficient diet. Therefore, drilling inocuous hand fertilizers in with 
the seed is useful, as is putting some well rotted manure or leached 
ashes into hills of corn, potatoes, indeed, with all planted seeds. Hut 
there are good reasons for distributing most of the manures or fertiliz- 
ers all through the soils, and as deeply as the plant roots can possi- 
bly penetrate. The growth and vigor of all the plants or crops depend 
chiefly upon a good supply of strong roots that stretch out far, and tluis 
gather food over the widest extent of soil. If a flourishing stock of 
corn, grain or grass, be carefully washed, so as to leave all its roots or 
rootlets attached, there will be found a wonderful mass of hunch eds and 
even thousands of roots to any plant, and they extend off a long dis- 
tance, frequently several feet — the farther the better, to collect more 
food and moisture. Put some manure fertilizer in place two feet away 
from a corn or potatoe hill, or from almost any plant, and a large mass of 
roots will go out in that direction. So if we mix manure or fertilizers 
well through the soil, they attract these food-seeking roots to a greater 
disance, and they thus come in contact with more of the food already 
m the soil, and find more moisture in dry weather. A deeply stirred 
soil, with manure at the bottom, develops water-pumping roots below 
the reach of any ordinary drouth and the crops keep right on growing, 
all the more rapidly on account of the helpful sun's rays that would 
scorch a plant not reaching a deep moisture. 

In answer to the question what is the best chemical manures to buy 
for tobacco, Mr. S. G. Hubbard, of Mass., writes as follows: 

For a satisfactory answer, a knowledge o( the soil constituents 
of the given locality would be necessary. In so far as soil is more 
or less deficient in potash, lime, magnesia, and phosphoric acid, these 
must be supplied. A formula of several successful growers in the Con- 
necticut vallev is about as follows : One cask of lime previously slack- 



THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. ly 



ed by exposure to the air, 400 lbs. of sulphate of potash, 500 lbs. of 
pure bone dust and 2000 lbs. of cottonseed meal sown separately broad- 
crst over one acre of land and harrowed in. A good foundation of 
humus should be present in the soil or be supplied in the form of com- 
mon stable manure or vegetable substitutes. 

The lime and potash are used to improve the quality of tobacco, 
particularly the burn. The burn of a cigar is unsatisfactory when it 
starts off white and soon changes to an earthly yellowish color, which 
shows it to be deficient in potash. When potash is present in sufficient 
quantity, the burn will be white with a bluish tinge, and will be clear 
which quality it will retain until consumed. The inquiry suggests a 
problem that could be worked out at our agricultural college — to find 
by analysis the relative amount of the several elements which form a 
perfect tobacco as compared with tobacco good and bad taken from 
various sections. The information gained would be of great value to 
farmers. 

TOBACCO SEED. 

The question of seed for the tobacco crop is one that every grower 
should interest himself in. Shall we continue to use the same seed we 
have grown on the farm year after year, or try some earlier date Span- 
ish ? "What is the use of changing seed," says one grower, "when I 
have no trouble in selling my crop for a good price, and have used the 
same seed each year over and over ? It's good enough forme." It would 
take considerable argument to convince this farmer that his practice 
was not a good one. He measures his theory by the results obtained, 
and the size of his wallet is what tells best. 

The writer I'ecognizes that it is of little use to talk to Wisconsin to- 
bacco growers about scientific theories concerning the degeneracy of 
seed, or change in varieties grown, or improved methods of culture, 
when the market booms and buyers loose their heads, as has been the 
case with the '83 and '84 crops. When a run-out and shoe-string crop 
will bring as much as the finest qualities, when quantity alone is 
the point buyers consider, when weight means money the grower 
is not going to bother himself to change a leafy, thick-veined varities 
even if it is only one remove from seedleaf for a fine-leafed and small- 
er tobacco yielding only two-thirds as much per acre. There is, how- 
ever, one or two points we desire to call attention to: 

Wisconsin enjoys an enviable reputation as a Tobacco State. It is 
this reputation which has brought to our tobacco farmers good prices 
for the present crop while other States are neglected and growers are 
now almost begging for a market even at smaller prices. It means 
that if western tobacco can hold the advantage they can reap golden 
benefits. Now, it has become a serious question if the good name and 
reputation of Wisconsin Spanish tobacco can be maintained if our grow- 
ers are careless and indifferent as to the varieties grown and the meth- 
ods of culture. The writer insists that it cannot be done. Attain : 



18 THE XOB^'yj.CU .QKUWEKS' GUIDE. 



buyers will not always be crazy.. The time will ■ come M'hen there will 
be no boom or excitement in our market and the crop will be bought 
strictly on its merits. Fine tobacco will bring the best prices, and 
the coarse, overgrown rubbish will grade where it belongs. Then 
the farmer who pays strict attention to his seed and culture will 
reap the benefits of experience and knowledge. Talk with any of the 
buyers who are packing in this market, and they will tell you that a 
*large proportion of the present crop is too leafy and veiny or, in other 
words, run-out. That new and better seed is needed. Spanish tobacco, 
to make a desirable wrapper, should be of medium size, small-veined, 
and of fine texture and finish ; in fact, the virtues of original Spanish of 
ten years ago. 

There will probably be a hundred different persons supplying seed to 
Growers in this State every year. If this number could be reduced to 
one party, and the seed known to be right in every particular, the reputa- 
tion of Wisconsin tobacco would be improved. The first element of 
success in tobacco culture is good seed. Don't forget it. 

HOW TO CARE FOR SEED. 

To be absolutely sure that your seed will grow it should be housed 
before a frost. If the entire .stalk has not ripened, pick the ripe pods 
off and place them in a dry place until all the moi.sture has evaporated. 
If the heads have ripened and you ha\'e any quantity' of them, string 
them upon lath and hang in the sheds until dr>' when it can be shelled. 
After the seed has been shelled it should be put into glass jars, tin cans 
or cloth bags in some place where it will not gather moisture or 
the mice molest. When seed has been thus carefullj' preserved its age 
will not injure it and can be planted with safety for \'ear.s. 

.\ SMALL M.ATTER. 
(Wi.scf)Htiin Tohacei) Reportir.i 

Tobacco seed it is claimed, is the smallest seed in proportion to the 
size of plant it produces, there is known in the vegetable kingdom ; 
and further, it produces more seeds than any other plant in existence. 
The editor of The Reporter has been growing a small garden plat of 
tobacco seed the present sea.son, and being on rich ground the 
-plants grew thrifty and large. A few days ago curiosity prompted us 
to count the seed pods on one of these plants. The result gave 298 
.well deyeloped pods. The nurnber being greater than we expected, we 
thought w'e would gratify our curiosity stiH further b\' making an at- 
tempt to count the contents of one of these pods. The task was ho 
.small one, but by opening the pod on a sheet of whiter paper and using 
a, :magnifiying glass it was finally accomplished with a fair degree of 
accuracy. The number was found be 3,412 seeds. A little coriiputa- 
tion.would then show that the seed talk counted produced 1,0 1.5. 776 
seeds or enough to plant L25 a^^es if the seeds all.grow, and if the' to- 
bacco produced would bring a shilling a pound it would be worth $1.8',- 
375. Here is a seed that produces o\'cr a million fold! Think of it. 



THE TOBACCO GKOWEHS GUIDE. I9 



a single plant producing seed for $18,375 vvorth of tobacco! It hardly 
seems possible and yet it is said that figures won't lie. 

HOW MUCH TO BUY. 

An ounce of seed will sow a bed sixty feet long and five feet wide, 
and with good care will furnish twenty thousand plants, which will set 
a three acre field. It is an excellent fault to have plenty of plants when 
setting commences so most dealers count not less than an ounce of seed 
for every 2 acres planted. Some even buy more than this. A perfect- 
ly safe estimate would be 2 oz. for every three acres of ground. 

HOW TO TEST SEED. 

In the purchase of seeds one is apt to be deceived. A correspon- 
dent recommends a test which he has used for many years with com- 
plete success. It is that of fire. Take at random a number of seeds 
from the bag ; say eight. Put some live coals on a shovel, and deposit 
each of the seeds successively thereon. Blow the coal and watch how 
the seeds behaves. If the combustion is slow, merely giving off some 
smoke, you may conclude the seed had some damaged germ ; if, on the 
other hand, the seeds leaps and turn.s about on the coal, producing a 
dry sound (tac) proportional to the size, it may be inferred to have good 
germinative qualities. In this way the proportion of good and bad 
seeds may be ascertained. As for the larger seeds, such as acorns and 
chestnuts, it is sufficient to throw them into the fire, and keep them in 
view. If the quality is good this will be indicated ere long by detona- 
tion of the seed. 

A correspondent in the Farm and Fireside gi\'es the following direc- 
tions for testing the quality of seeds. 

My plan, he says, is to make a box six inches deep. Fill in four 
inches of good soil ; on this lay a thin piece of muslin, just enough to 
fit the box, and make it nicely level on the soil. On this muslin put 
one hundred seeds of the kind you wish to test. Cover them with an- 
other piece of muslin, and an inch of earth. When done, \A'ater with 
slightly warm water and set away in a warm place. The sprouting 
process can be much facilitated by placing the box on the stove, daily, 
after the fire is nearly out, so that the sto\e is ju.st warm enough to 
heat the bottom of the box. Otherwise the box can be set on bricks 
that are heated daily for the purpose. . After four or five days lift off 
tht^ top dirt and its covering of cloth carefully.- Count the seeds that 
have sprouted, and if only fift}- of each sort have sprouted, procure 
new seed: If oxer seventy-five are sproutetl, and the sprouts all look 
vigorous,- the seed will do'ver\'well, ()f course, the greater the per 
'c<int. of those that sj^rout, the better. 

lliE VAKIETIES TO PLANT. "... 

'fhc question whelher it is more profitable to grow .Seedleaf, or 
Havana seed is one which we think the experience of late \ears has 
decided in favor of the Haxana, or Spanish as it is oftener called. In 
a strictly financial point of 'view it is often the case that Seedle;if will 



20 THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 



bring the grower as large returns per acre as Havana seed. The gross 
returns per acre would not vary much, all things being equal, whether 
you sold seedleaf at 7 cents, or Havana seed at 125^ cents per ft). The 
trade, however, the last few years have almost entirely demanded the 
latter variety. The best policy for growers is to produce a leaf that sells 
readily upon the market and as the prevailing fashion has a strong 
leaning towards the Havana seed, it being so admirably adapted for ci- 
gar wrapping purposes, farmers have found that this is the variety to 
pin their faith upon. Still there are quite a respectable minority of 
growers who still presist in raising seedleaf as a portion of their crop, 
and are generally fairly successful. But few of the dealers in Wiscon- 
sin handle seedleaf making it much more difficult to find a purchaser, 
than heretofore. We hardly feel like encouraging tobacco growers to 
plant seedleaf so long as the trade is so partial to Havana seed. 

HISTORY OF THE "COMSTOCK SPANISH." 

Of all the "numerous" varieties of Spanish tobacco cultivated in our 
State it is quite generally conceeded that none embody so many vir- 
tues as that which is commonly known as the "Comstock Spanish." 
Having never been able to find any reliable history of this favorite va- 
riety The Reporter began a search for statistics and information that 
might be preserved and in a measure supply this deficiency. To Wm. 
T. Pomeroy, of Janesville, belongs the credit of first introducing Span- 
ish tobacco in Wisconsin. In the fall of 1871 Mr. C. C. Mengel, of 
Westfield, Mass., was in the State looking after the prospects of our to- 
bacco crop, and upon returning home, found a small crop of tobacco 
which appeared to him as being so much finer than tlie average crops 
that he purchased it at 50 cents per pound. He wrote to Mr. Pome- 
roy about it and at Promeroy's suggestion secured some of the seed 
which was sent west. In 1872 Mr. Pomeroy planted a small patch but 
the plants grew very tall and leaves far apart, so that he had but little 
confidence in the "new fangled" tobacco as it was called, and put away 
what seed had saved, not thinking it would amount to much. A small 
lot of this tobacco raised from the first seed Mr. Pomeroy sold at 75 
cents per pound, and the seed probably reached perfection about one 
year later, when he gave his neighbor, Comstock, a little of this seed in 
1876, and the latter planted a small field and allowed about % of an 
acre to go to seed, producing 25 or 30 pounds. P^-om this package 
the original Comstock Spanish was distributed. The next season a 
number of farmers about Cooktovvn raised small crops of the new va- 
riety which sold from 8 to 10 cents, while the common seedleaf was 
selling for 5 and 6 cents per pound. Mr. Comstock died in 1877 and 
a year or two later Wm. T. Pomeroy secured what remained of the ori- 
ginal package of fhe Comstock seed. In 1878 Pomeroy & Pelton sold 
this seed to farmers at their store in P'ulton. The Comstock family, 
Pomeroy's and the others who had obtained the seed, began to distri- 
bute it from this time on until it became very widely scattered. Prob- 



THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUJDE. 31 



ably three-fourths of the tobacco now grown in the State is a descenciant 
from the Comstock variety, but through carlessness in preserving its puri- 
ty and by growing year after year it has lost much of its character and vir- 
tures, so that but a small per cent, of the crop as a whole will to-day 
indicate that the seed is pure enough for further propagation. If any 
of the old original Comstock seed could be found to-day we know par- 
ties who would gladly give $25 per ounce for it and it would be cheap 
indeed at that price. 

We have before attempteci to impress upon the minds ot Wisconsin 
tobacco growers that the future reputation of our state tobacco will 
much depend upon the improvement of the varieties now grown. Again 
we wish to say to them that if they can secure seed of the early date 
Comstock variety they will do much towards accomplishing this ob- 
ject. 

PREPARINCi PLANT BEDS. 

In the selection of soil for beds, choose preferably clay ground 
mixed with black loam. Let the beds be five feet wide and run, length- 
wise east and west. Turn up the ground shallow — not over six inches 
elevating the surface three to four inches, with a fall of about two 
inches from north to south. Run six inch boards along the south side 
of bed, and eighteen inch boards along the north side to act as a re- 
flector, on the north side, with triangular end pieces. Now cover the 
surface of the bed, barely, with chicken manure. Rake when ready 
to sow and cover with fine rotten wood and loam gathered from about 
a decayed log in the fore.st, to a depth of three-fourths to one inch. Take 
dry seed and mix with dry leached ashes, and sow on a still day. Do 
not mix the seed with ashes until you are ready to sow. Tramp with a 
board or pat with a broad shovel. Sprinkle the bed with water and draw 
the canvas tight over a bar across the center lengthwise, to turn show- 
ers. Keep the surface of the bed constantly moist — carlessness in this 
particular will be fatal. Remove the canvas every day for about twelve 
days before planting, keeping it off between the hours of 9 o'clock a. 
m. and 3 o'clock p. m., to harden the plants. 

The annoyance to so many farmers every year in the loss of plants 
that were in beds exposed to frost is a lesson to be heeded. Low ground 
is more apt to be wet and freeze. On the selection of a proper locality 
for a plant bed, and its preparation largely depends the timely supply 
of strong, healthy plants, without which it is impossible to raise a crop 
of fine grade. The planter, therefore, can not be too careful in secur 
ing a sheltered spot, neither too wet nor too dry, as rich naturally as 
can be found, and located so as to possess different degrees of moisture. 

The better location is a hillside of rich ground with southern or east 
ern exposure, well protected on the north and east sides. An old bed 
should never be used for a new variet)' of seed. 

The ground should be well spaded or plowed in the fall. Dig a pit 
eighteen inches deep, five feet wide and the required length, fill three or 



22 THE TOBACCtJ GKOWERS GUIDE. 



four inches with straw and cover with fresh rotted stable manure to 
the depth of six or eight inches, then cover with soil, adding wood 
mould, if convenient, five inches deep. 

In the spring, as soon as the soil is dry enough to work, it should 
be forked and raked off fine and mellow. The bed may be greatly en- 
riched by a thin spread of poultry manure about four inches below the 
surface, but it should not be placed to come in contact with the seed, 
but below to tempt the roots. 

Build a cold frame around the bed with plank twelve inches wide on 
the north or upper side, and six inches wide on the south or lower side. 

In ordinary seasons it is best to sow seed at three different times, 
about a week apart, say the first, second and third weeks in April, so 
that transplanting may be done in June, and a rush avoided m topping 
and cutting. 

An ounce of seed will sow a bed sixty feet long and five wide, and 
with good care will furnish twenty thousand plants, which will plant 
a three acre field. It is important that the seed be sown evenly in 
the bed and not too thick. To avoid sowing unevenly it is a good plan 
to mark off the surface of the bed in squares. After sowing the seed, 
il the soil is dry, it is best to "form" the soil slightly with a light hand 
roller or wide board, after which the bed should be watered down or 
sprinkled heavily with warm water ; the canvas or other covering should 
then be put on. Great care should be exercised during the first week 
after sowing the seed not allow the surface of the soil in the bed to be- 
come dry, otherwise the tender sprouts will be destroyed and failure 
will follow. Keep the bed wet by frequent sprinklings of warm water 
through a sprinkling-pot having a fine nose. 

In this climate the beds will need protection from frost four years 
out of five, and for this purpose canvas covering is ni popular use, 
which keeps the beds warm, promotes growth, and protects the plants. 
Canvas tacked on a light frame that fits the cold frame, answers every 
purpose and will last several years. A bed twelve feet long will require 
four sections of canvas covering which are light and handy and may be 
put on or off or adjusted at pleasure. When the plants have pretty 
well covered the surface of the bed, remove the canvas during the day 
and only replace them when there is danger of frost, or to keep off the 
bugs. There is the advantage of having earlier plants by this mode 
and perfect security against the plantbug. 

Open air beds produce the best plants, and it is very well established 
that the plants will stand transplanting better and usually grow quick- 
er than plants raised in either cold frames or hot-beds, but the risk 
of frost is too great, for it requires but a slight touch to kill ; then the 
farmer must depend on resowing or borrowing from his neighbor. 

It is the custom in some localities to sprout a portion of the seed, 
then in .sowing mix dry seed with sprouted, to thicken growth, but we 
see no ath'antage in this, where the bed may be made large enougli. 



THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 23 



On a cold night or when there is danger of frost, the bed should be 
covered with old carpets, straw or boards, to prevent the young plants 
from being chilled. Late plants may be grown successfully without 
covering for the beds. Such plants are usually strong and healthy, 
but will rarely be ready to transplant before the i 5th or 20th of June, 
which is rather late for planting, although many seasons plants that 
are set out after July ist and are hanging in the sheds before thei Oth 
day of September. 

The beds must be kept moist and free of weeds, for thousands of 
young plants are strangled in hard, dry earth or starved by ravenous 
weeds. 

If fleas attack the young plants be ready with a large piece of white 
canvas or a sheet. Let two persons hold it at the side of the plant 
bed while another whips the bed carefully with wisps of brush ; the 
fleas will jump upon the canvas, then plunge canvas and fleas mto 
boiling water. An experienced grower says that old sweated tobac- 
co, rubbed up and sifted over the beds will rout these pests completely. 
A light sprinkling of wood ashes may be all that is necessary. 

Growers will find that an occasional light sprinkling of liquid ma- 
nure on the beds will prove v^ery beneficial, as furnishing immediate 
food to the young plants and tending to give strong bushy roots and 
healthy plants. Overfeeding, however, is liable to bring delicate plants. 

"What is worth doing, is worth doing well" is an old adage, and "a 
thing well begun is almost done" is another. So it is with tobacco cul- 
ture. Three things are required to germinate the seed and make them 
grow, viz: Heat, Light and Moisture. Sprout the seed. Reason — you 
will not then plant poor seed, and the plants will get the start of the 
weeds. 

HOW FAR TO SPROUT .SEED. 

The Miamsburg Bulletin advises planters to sow an abundance of 
.seed, and to make three or four sowings a week apart. Too much em- 
phasis can not be placed upon this suggestion, the object being to se- 
cure choice plants to provide for replanting, and to take advantage of 
the seasons. The abomniable practice of sprouting seed until the roots 
are so far projected that many of them are necessarily broken and des- 
troyed in sowing cannot be too strongly condemned. If you will watch 
the sprouting of a tobacco seed under a powerful glass you will ob- 
serve the shell first open at one end. To the naked eye it presents sim- 
ply a white spot. This is the stage to sow sprouted seed. Beyond 
this is involved great delicacy in handling and risk in sowing. Next 
appear the fine rootlets, like vegetable mould, not one of which is su- 
perfluous. These are finer than the strand of a spider's web and much 
more fragile. The destruction of some of these makes no perceptible 
difference in the appearance of the plant, but careful experiments have 
demonstrated that such jilants are responsible for much that is found 
objectionable in the Spanish leaf 



24 THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 



Mix the seed evenly clean with saw-dust. Put it in a pan and wet it, 
putting a wet cloth on top. Keep the saw-dust moist, not wet, and in 
a warm place, and in five or six days it will be ready and sprouted and 
ready to sow. You can sow the saw-dust and seed very evenly, as the 
saw-dust will show on the dirt. Don't sow too thick, as you cannot get 
good plants when so sown. After sowing the seed the bed should 
be lightly raked. The seed bed must be very rich and fine on the surface. 
After sowing, the top of the bed must be made hard, either by tramp- 
ing, pressing down evenly and hard with a broad board by walking on 
it. When packed this way, it will not dry out as soon as left loose. 
To preserve moisture the bed must be covered, as drying the seed af- 
ter sprouting will kill it. For covering we have tried hay, straw, corn- 
fodder, brush and cloth. In covering with hay or straw too much will 
smother the plants, and too little cause them to dry out. The amount 
of covering for wet weather will be too much for dry weather, and vice 
versa. Use cloth for covering ; as it is the only thing we can cover 
with and be sure of getting a good stand of plants. It is extensively 
used in Kentucky and Tennessee, and the testimony is unanimously in 
its favor, as it has many advantages. To make the bed, drive stakes 
as desired, and on the north side nail boards about eighteen inches 
high, on the south side let the boards be about four inches high. Bank 
up with dirt to make it tight. Then tack on a frame made to fit the 
top of the boards common brown domestic. The domestic will be bet- 
ter if made water-proof. To make it water-proof use the following re- 
ceipe : Linseed oil one gallon, dried sulphate of zinc and sugar of lead 
each three ounces, litharge eight ounces. Boil, with constant stirring, 
until it will drop into strings. Cool, clear off the clear part, and if too 
thick, thin with boiled oil. This varnish is flexible, and the cover can 
be folded or rolled as desired. Under this cover the keen blasts of 
Spring will not penetrate, and a more uniform temperature is preserved. 
Occasional watering with warm w ater will keep the surface of the bed 
moist, warm and light — the three essential things to make the plants 
grow. Good seed sown and covered in this way is bound to grow and 
make good plants, if kept clean of weeds. When the plants get a 
good start, the cover should be removed from nine to four o'clock, 
that the plants may harden. Don't sow too early, as plants may be 
grown in this way in two weeks, if the soil is rich and all right. We 
have had the beds green with tobacco plants in ten days after the seed 
was put to sprout. The next best method is to cover the bed thick 
with fine brush, and not remove the brush until weeding time. Should 
you fail in your plant bed, the chances are your crop will be a failure. 

liOW VO RAISE PLANTS WITHOUT WEEDlNti 

Proceed b\' placing the seed in a piece of flannel ; tie it in with a 
cord ; dip the sack and seed in luke-warm water until the seeds are 
thoroughly moistened. Fill a tin fruit can or any convenient vessel 
with loose, moist earth and bur\- the seed up to the neck of the 



THE TOBACCO growers' GUIDE. 2$ 



sack in the earth within the can. Place the can near a stove and keep 
constantly warm over night. This is a very delicate process and re- 
quires careful management. Those who have had no experience would 
best not subject all of their seed to this method for fear of failure. 
Bear in mind that the growth of the plant is generally acclerated by this 
course, the whole object of which, having destroyed weeds in the beds 
by early spading and subsequent raking, is to get ahead of weeds that 
may appear, or to compensate for late spring sowing. Any grasses 
that may spring up from germs in the wood loam or chicken manure 
can be quickly removed. The points to be guarded are, first to avoid 
carrying the sprouting of the seed far before sowing. For the begin- 
ner it is best to sow before the white germinal point appears upon the 
ends of the seeds. The experienced grower should not push his seed 
beyond this stage. The second point to be guarded is in mixing the 
seed with ashes. They should not be roughly handled, but gently and 
thoroughly mingled with ashes until the moisture is absorbed from them 
-SO that they will no longer stick together and may be sown evenly. 
Swelled or sprouted seed should not be sown earlier than the 1 5th of 
April. 

Another writer and a practical tobacco grower says on the subject: 
While we discourage the use of hot beds for the growing of tobacco 
plants, we confess to a strong partiality for covering the ordinary open 
air bed with canvas. The advantages are so many that we have no 
room here to go into all the details. If burning the seed bed were 
practiced by our growers, and the beds afterwards carefully covered 
with canvas we believe they would rarely experience any trouble from 
beetles or bugs. The fire would destroy all in the beds while the can- 
vas will prevent the entrance of any from the outside. The custom is 
becoming very general among the Kentucky and Tennessee growers 
and their testimony is unanimously in favor of its many advantages. 
It is not an expensive opperation. Boards six inches high placed aroud 
the beds and closely fitted at the corners are sufficient. Over these 
the canvas — common brown domestic will answer — must be drawn tight- 
ly to prevent sagging in the center and then tacked closely to the board 
frame. The keen blasts of spring are also kept out and a more uni- 
form temperature is kept within. On one side of the frame the cover- 
ing should be so slightly fastened as to admit of its easy removal when 
the beds or plants require attention or when it is desirable to ex- 
pose them more fully to the sun. Of course where the precaution of 
burning the seed bed is not adopted neither boards nor canvas will af- 
ford protection against bugs, as they are no doubt in the soil and will 
make their way to the surface in due time. 

TO GET A GOOD BED OF PLANTS. 

It ts very essential to tobacco growers that they have, as a starting 
point, a good bed of plants. It may not necessarily be the earliest bed 
fliat c^ be gained, but one that is sufficiently early to insure the best 



26 THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 



part of the season, and one that has plenty of strong healthy plants of 
good size. Opinions differ in regard to the best means of procuring such 
a result, and various methods are employed. Some start their plants 
under glass ; others a little under cloth. Both methods have some ad- 
vantages. For instance here a grower has a large number of acres to 
set, a very early bed enables him to begin setting a few days in advance 
of an open air bed, as well as to begin harvesting at an earlier date, 
thus prolonging the growing season. But the general experience 
has been that very early toacco is not, as a rule, as profitable as that 
set at a later date. About June 20th is the best time in average sea- 
sons, to set the crop, and many growers make an effort to set as much 
as possible at about that time. The great trouble with plants raised 
under a glass is that they are apt to have too much heat generated by 
the manure under them, and by the accumulated heat from the glass. 
They spindle too much, do not start as readily or as evenly when set 
in the field as more hardy plants, and require more care and attention 
if the glass is used or even cloth. I am in favor of using fertilizers of 
some kind instead of so much manure, particularly hot horse manure. 
The plants are more apt to be stocky if grown on fertilizer and not 
necessarily later if properly managed. The land should be made rich 
with manure the proceeding fall, and the fertilizer thoroughly worked 
into the surface in the spring. Sprouted seed is always the best to sow, 
either under cloth or glass, as well as in the open air if sowed late. 
The quantity area of bed should be put in a woolen bag — a stocking 
leg for instance — and wet completely in water at a temperature a little 
above blood heat, and then hung near the stove. Care should be taken 
that the seed does not become dried. Dip the bag in warm water two 
or three times in twenty-four hours, if necessary. In a very short 
time the seed will germinate and burst the shell. When the minute 
white germs appear to compose about half the mass, it is sufficiently 
sprouted, and should then be mixed with a small quantity of fine meal 
(say about a quart) and sowed. The meal is to facilitate the even dis- 
tribution of the seed. If the land is rather light it should be rolled 
before sowing, and the seed very lightly raked in, then again rolled and 
immediately watered. The covering, whatever it is, should then be 
placed upon it, and until the plants are of the size of a three cent piece 
only removed when necessary to water the bed. After that time it is 
best to give the plants the benefit of the air during the warmest part 
of the day. Though this may somewhat retard their growth, it 
will harden them and render them less liable to wilt when set. If the 
plants look yellow and spindling and do not grow fast as they should, 
a solution of sulphate of ammonia may be use to good advantage. In 
fact it is advisable to use it upon most beds. About a pound of the 
sulphate, such as is used for agricultural purposes and costing about 
five cents, should be distributed in about thirty gallons of water, and 
a few pailsful applied with a sprinkler each morning, using clear water 



THE TOBACCO GROWERS' GUIDE. 2^ 



immediately after it, as a solution of the above strength is too much for the 
plants if not diluted. This will restore the plants to a healthy, dark green 
color, and wonderfully promote their growth. This is better than the old 
plan of dissolving Peruvian guano and applying it to the bed. Although 
we get a solution of ammonia that way, it is of an uncertain degree of 
strength and sometimes we get an overdose which kills the plants. A des- 
sert spoonful of seed is sufficient tor a square rod. The plan of sowing dry 
seed in the fall is not generally very successful. Dry seed sown very 
early in the spring upon soil that is quickened by the liberal use of fer- 
tilizers containing ammonia and covered with brush or pine boughs and 
well watered, will generally yield plants enough by June 20th or 25th. 

Mr. H. R. Hoag, of Walworth county, gives the following directions 
for preparing liquid manure for plant beds, the use of which he has found 
very beneficial. He built a large leach capable of holding about a wagon 
load of barnyard manure. To this applied several barrels of water. Before 
setting he marked off his ground and applied about a pint of the liquid to 
each spot where the plant was to be set. The plants were then set, 
and when they had grown to five or six inches another pint was poured 
at the roots. The effect on the tobacco was wonderful, both in start- 
mg the plants and in the subsequent growth. He treated only about 
one-fourth of an acre in this way, but it is certain that if he had gone to 
the expense of, say $5 an acre, to liquefy his manure, using only about 
three loads of manure to the acre, it would have made a difference in his 
crop of 200 pounds per acre and increased his gross receipts fully five hun- 
dred dollars. The advantage shown is in his less amount of manure re- 
quired, and in the immediate effect .seen is in starting the plants, and in 
their subsequent growth. This is a valuable hint, which we would like 
to see our tobacco growers copy. 

A correspondent of the Country Gentleman writes: All that is required 
during the first two or three weeks after sowing the seed is to keep the 
surface of the soil in the bed damp, and to prevent scorching of the 
plants by raising the sashes when the sun shines very warm. Too much 
water is injurious to the plants and retards growth, and it should be 
applied to the bed through a sprinkling pot having a fine nose. The 
observing farmers of southern Pennsylvania have learned that no 
sprinkling which they can give their tobacco plants is so beneficial to 
them as a warm shower, and, hence, the glass is removed as rain ap- 
proaches, unless it be a cold shower, when it is usually thought best 
to leave the plants covered, unless advanced in growth. 

It is very rarely that a tobacco bed has been so carefully and skill- 
fully managed that little or no weeding is necessary. In most cases 
weeding the plants is a long and tedious task. It is well to commence 
weeding as soon as the weeds become large enough to pull, and the 
more thorough the work is executed the better for the young plants, 
which need all the room and fertilizers in the soil for rapid and health- 
ful growth. To ha.sten the growth of the plants it is customary and 



28 THE TOBACCO GROWERS' GUIDE. 



advisable, I believe, to apply to the bed liquid manure. This may be 
made in several simple ways or it may usually be found already pre- 
pared in hollow places in the barnyard. There is nothing better than 
barnyard manure water unless it be soapsuds, either of which gives 
rapid and healthy growth to the plants and supplies to the soil the 
necessary elements of fertility for the production of plants. 

There are two insects which have proved especially destructive to 
young tobacco plants while growing in the seedbed. I have never 
tdken the trouble to procure their names, but have studied their char- 
acteristics in my own experience in plant growing, and have learned 
that the same insects are common in the Pennsylvania tobacco grow- 
ing districts, as they doubtless are in all the seed-leaf producing sec- 
tions. One of these insects is a flea, resembling the flea which plays 
such havoc with the cabbage plants. The other is a worm, ranging 
when full grown from a quarter to a half inch in length. It is small 
in circumference, many legged, and of a dark brown color. It oper- 
ates in spots in the beds, usually where the plants are thickest. The 
first indications that are seen of the operations of this insect are the 
wilting of the plants and their apparent rotting. As the ravages of 
this insect usually occur in very hot, wet weather, I think the difficul- 
ty is very often called the plant rot. The Worms eat off the plants just 
below or at the surface, leaving them to wilt or rot down under the 
effects of a hot sun and dampness. 

The flea is probably best destroyed or prevented from injuring the 
plants by a light sprinkling of ashes, lime or plaster (gypsum) over the 
bed when the plants are damp. The worm» are best destroyed by a 
strong application of soap suds to the bed, esfjecially to those parts 
where the worms are found to be at wQi'k. I have sometimes driven 
the worms from the beds by dropping a hand of hard wood ashes in 
each spot where they had killed the plants. To avoid the attacks of 
these worms<, it is well to use a considerable quantity of wood a.shes 
for fertilizing the beds before sowing the seed. This method has prov- 
ed quite effectual, and ashes make an e^scelleat fertilizer for the 
plants, if thoroughly incorporated with the soil. Angle worms are oc- 
casionally destructive to tobacco plants. I have known them to come 
up in vast numbers from the subsoil, and in a single night nearly de- 
stroy a whole bed of plants. Rut they seldom trouble a bed where wood 
ashes have been used in any considerable quantity, and they may be 
driven back, if discovered in time, by applying soap suds to the plants. 

PREPARATION OF SOIL. 

With full knowledge that farmers generally will rely upon their own 
practical judgment, based upon experience, conditions of soil, weather 
and season, and the requirements of their own land, we give the fol 
iowing points gathered from the best authorities on tobacco culture, 
and the recommendations of intelligent, sucee.^sful growers of this sec- 
tion, in preparation of soil. 



THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 2g 

For any of the varieties, soil should be well worked and the ma- 
nure thoroughly mixed with it, to this end plow as often as possible; 
for the more soil is plowed, the more thoroughly will the manure or 
other fertilizer be mixed with it. While many think tobacco ground 
ought not to be plowed very deep the first time, it certainly must de- 
pend upon the kind of soil, for it is not best to plow deep where the 
soil is shallow, and in deep soil the reverse is the rule. 

The heavier the soil, the deeper plowing is necessary, and if it be new 
ground, it should be turned over in the Fall to a depth of eight inches. 
Heavy clay land must be tilled, and a liberal dressing of sand is the 
best fertilizer that can be applied. If sand be thus plowed and harrow- 
ed in, years of time may be saved in lightening the soil. If level clay 
upland be not tilled, in wet seasons the tobacco will french. Hillside 
fields are not so bad, but soil on level clay land will pack from moist- 
ure, checking the roots, stopping growth, and causing the plants 
to wither and french. Old, well fertilized, clean ground is best for to- 
bacco, but planters do not follow any rule, and will use orchards, new 
ground, hill tops, or the rich loamy bottoms, as best suits their plans. 
There must be however, no neglect in preparation of the field, no labor 
spared in putting soil in proper condition. The land having been 
broken in the Fall, should be again plowed in the Spring, and at that time 
work in what manure or other fertilizer it is thought the land requires. 
Land can not be too rich for tobacco, yet it is not required that rotted 
manure be plowed under more than four or five inches, this gives it a 
covering and saves the fertilizer, and besides does not go deep enough 
to enrich the subsoil rather than feed the plant. In tobacco culture 
especially, the profits increase in proportion to the thorough prepara- 
tion and tillage of the soil, therefore after this Spring plowing the land 
should be still farther improved by a light top dressing of manure, 
working it in the surface with the harrow. This surface application of 
manure, especially with rain will supply immediate nourishment to the 
young plants. It would be even better if the land were rolled after the 
harrowing, and it would be still better if a cultivator were used instead 
of the harrow. The soil must be kept light and stirred up, therefore 
if after this plowing, rains should come and the ground settle or pack 
before planting, it loses condition, and should be gone over with the 
cultivator. Keep the field rich and mellow to receive the young plants 
and give them a good send off. 

An old planter tells us that he believes in plowing often and deep, to 
put the soil in condition to sustain the plants through dry seasons that 
we have four years out of five. He plows once inthe F'all and twice in 
the Spring, then scatters stable manure broadcast and harrows until it 
is thoroughly mixed with the soil, and he keeps his land thus mellow 
by using the cultivator so long as he can work a horse between the 
rows without injury to the plants. 



30 THE TOBACCO GROWERS' GUIDE. 



PLANT TOBACCO ON THE LEVEL INSTEAD OF ON HILLS. 

An Elmira (N. Y.) correspondent of the Country Gentleman, advances 
the following novel but yet reasonable view in reference to the culture 
of tobacco : Recent tests made at the New York Experiment Station, 
to determine some of the characteristics of the tobacco plants, have 
demonstrated that the roots do not penetrate the soil to as great a depth 
as those of corn, potatoes, timothy and most other of our common 
crop plants. Matured plants of tobacco, carefully taken up and the 
roots washed out, have shown the latter to lie near the surface where 
they occupy the soil for considerable distance on all sides. The to- 
bacco plant being a surface feeder, and a lover of light and heat, it is 
probable that the common practice of forming hills about the plants 
during the process of hoeing and cultivating results in positive damage 
to the crop, retarding the growth and full development. I have fre- 
quently during the periods of wet weather seen the rootlets cropping 
out upon the surface of the soil between the rows; and where hills have 
been made about the plants, the roots formmg above the normal 
height, will extend horizontally until they must come into contact with 
the sunlight which prevents further growth. It is a common belief 
that the hilling of tobacco in dry seasons prevents in part the injurious 
effects of drouth. While I am not prepared wholly to contradict this 
idea, I am quite well convinced in my ow n mind that the reverse is 
true; and, further, that in no case does the practice of "hilling," either 
with corn or tobacco, benefit the crop. For a number of years 1 have 
practiced level culture with tobacco, and 1 believe I have lessened the 
cost of production without decreasing the yield. In one case only 
would I advise the practice of hilling tobacco, and that is where pur- 
slane ("pussley") is troublesome, as is the case in some tobacco fields 
by covering in this section. This weed is best subdued in the field by 
covering it up with soil, and when hoeing tobacco, where it is found to 
e.xist largely I have found it advisable to draw up mellow soil from be- 
tween the rows and cover up the j)urslane plants, which necessitates 
hilling up the tobacco somewhat. 

HOW MANY TOBACCO PLANTS TO THE ACRE. 

The question isfrequently asked, "How many Havana tobacco plants 
shall I set on an acre of land ?" 

An. acre of land is 2087^3 feet square, and is also 2,504 inches square. 
An acre contains 160 square rods. An acre al.so embraces 43,520. 
square feet, and 6,296,880 square inches. 

If Havana tobacco plants are set out on one square acre of land, 
si.xty-four rows (three feet and two inches apart between the rows) are 
necessary to fill the acre, and 125 plants are necessary, twenty inches 
asunder, for each one of the si.xty-four rows, thus requiring 8,000 
plants to set out an acre in the manner described. 

A square acre set out with the rows three feet and two inches apart, 
and eighteen inches in the rows, takes 8,890 plants. In this instance 



THK TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 



it requires sixty-four rows to fill up the plot of i^round, and 139 plants 
to each row. 

A square acre set out witii the rows three feet apart, and eighteen 
inches between each plant in the row, will take 8,730 plants. 

Presuming that a thorough grower raises tobacco heavy enough so 
that five plants would be sufficient to turn out one pound of cured 
Domestic Havana leaf, then allowing that 9,730 plants can be set out 
on an acre of land, the yield would, according to this calculation, be 
1 ,956 pounds to the acre. 

In order to grow a beautiful, fine, and profitable leaf it seems neces- 
sary that our growers should put their plants close together — say 
about 9,000 to the acre — and thus raise tobacco equal to the Sumatra 
wrappers. 

WHE.N AND HOW TO TRANSPLAXT TOBACCO PLANTS. 

Here is advice that is timely and worth considering: When a to- 
bacco plant attains the proper size for transplanting, delay in setting it 
out at once is dangerous, for if crowded for room on the bed, the long- 
er it remains untransplanted the more certain it is that much valuable 
time is being lost, besides the plant will grow more and more spindl- 
ing the longer it is allowed to grow in the bed — thus making it what 
the growers properly call a "shanghai plant." We are of the opinion 
that the proper and safe policy to adopt is not to wait for rain when 
the plants in the beds are sufficiently large to transplant ; but on the con- 
trary, commence at once to water the hills by artificial means — and make 
use of a pomted stick to make holes three or four inches deep in the 
hill and one inch deep in diameter, into which pour a good supply of 
water. In these holes set the plants with unusual care, and they will 
live as well as those set out after a heavy rain, and some growers state 
that they will do better. The purpose of the grower should be to ex- 
pedite the setting out of his plants as rapidly as possible in order to get 
them growing without delay. Some farmers wait several days, if not 
weeks for rain, but if they would set out their plants when they grow 
to a suitable size, their tobacco would have plenty of time to mature — 
could be harvested early, and would ha\e time to make a good growth. 

THE TIME TO SET OUT PLANTS. 

It is not good policy, in my opinion, to set out Havana tobacco in 
our climate later than June 20th to 30th. It wouldbe well to commence 
operations about June 10th to 15th. It requires from seventy-five to 
ninet}' days for plants to grow and mature with us. True, Havana 
grows and ripens sooner than seedleaf, and the)' require to stand long- 
er after topping— say twenty to t\\ent>'-eight days. Hence how plain 
it is that we should use common sense and not only raise early plants, but 
set them out early as well. Do not wait for ram, if it does not come 
in time to set out your plants, but set them in water, in order to fur- 
ther your interest and get the Havana plants on their feet in time .so 
that no risk will be run on account of frost, etc. 



32 THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 



I believe more than two-thirds, if not three-fourths, of the growers 
in 1883 (and also in some previous years) put out their plants too late. 

Now, in a word, the best possible plans should be adopted by our 
growers for improving the early raising of plants, chiefly and truth- 
fully because the risks are too numerous, and the danger too imminent 
to attempt to raise good crops of Havana and tobacco in climate by 
the late setting of plants. 

TRANSPLANTING IN DRY WEATHER. 

This question which has become one of the decided interests should 
be well inquired into, and when it is once well understood it will be 
found to possess far more importance than any one would at first be- 
lieve. It has been only a short time when it was the rule to wait for 
a rain before setting plants, and as soon after a shower as pos- 
sible all hands would get to work to do their transplanting ; and 
now, those who have posted themselves well up in the matter, 
would rather set out their plants in dry weather than after a 
rain. Not a great many years ago many people would wait 
for certain signs of the moon before sowing their seeds ; but as 
we have come to altogether disregard such an allusion, we shall 
equally disregard the idea that we can transplant only after a shower, 
and go right on and do it at any time, only observing due care. The 
way, therefore, people now do who understand how things can be done, is 
to go over the ground where the plants are to be set, and make the 
necessary holes deep down in the soil with a dibble, where the plants 
are to grow, and fill these holes with water. This will soon soak away, 
leaving the ground m a half dry, half wet condition. The plants to set 
out are then taken from the seed-bed, and the roots doused in a vessel 
of water, and then one by one are taken out and put into the holes, 
pressed firmly, and the work is done. They need no more water, will 
wilt very little, and go right on to grow, and far better than when half 
a bucket of water is poured around each plant when set out and then 
let alone for a time, at least. 

Should dry weather follow, the plants must of course be again wa- 
tered, but not in the old way of pouring around each plant a gallon, 
only to run away and do no service. How then, it will be asked, are 
they watered? A little of the earth is removed from the plants by a 
hoe, so as to form a sort of basin about it, a moderate quantity ot wa- 
ter is poured into the basin, and in a few minutes, the water having all 
soaked away about the roots, the earth is restoretl around the plants, 
and the surface is as before. This prevents the water from running 
away, and the sun from baking the earth, and the wet soil underneath 
will be retained, and not more than two such waterings will be requir- 
ed to continue the steady growth of the plants during any dry spell or 
even prolonged drouth. 

If this hint is taken up and properly pursued, it will not only save a 
great deal of hard labor, but it will insure a good and satisfactory 



THE TOBACCO GKOWEKS GUIDE. 33 



crop ; and we suggest that it be tried by those who "live to learn," and 
desire to reap the best harvest from whatever might be sown. 

TO REMOVE PLANTS FROM THE BED. 

Mr. H. S. Pomeroy gives the following directions for removing plants 
from the beds : Soak the bed well and pull the plants with a table 
fork. Keep the plants straight and dip the roots into water. Let 
them drain a minute, and place carefully in the basket with the roots 
toward the center. Take a lath or other stick and break the 
crust in the center of the hills, but do not make deep holes. Now 
pour about half a puit of water on each hill. In about ten or fifteen 
minutes set the plant. Set while the dirt is still sticky, but not too 
soft. By having one or two ahead and water the hills, the setters can 
follow at the rigjit distance to have the soil in right condition. Do not 
water after setting as it will do more harm than good. Tobacco care- 
full)' watered out in this way do nearly or quite as well as when set 
out after a rain, but will require more labor. Do not set large and 
small plants together, but have them of even size. Do not let the 
plants wilt or the roots dry after pulling or before setting. 

]>lantin(t tobacco. 

The effort is to keep the ground loose and mellow for the tender 
roots to readily take nourishment at first setting, that the soil may be 
in this condition to encourage the roots to spread, giving favorable 
start to the plant. The grower is to be ready to take advantage of the 
first favorable weather. If the ground is too dry, the plants are to be 
watered as they are set out. Haul the water to the field in barrels and 
pour a cupful in each hole ; this will make moist earth for packing 
loosely around the roots. The plants may need watering for a day or 
two, (M' at least until thoroughly revived. 

The poorer the land, the closer should the plants be set, to protect 
the ground and plant from the hot scorching suns. In rich ground, 
set in rows three and a half feet apart, and plant from twenty to twen- 
ty-four inches apart ; but, if the land is poor the rows should be three 
feet apart. All conditions being favorable then, and the plants show- 
ing leaves as large or larger than silver dollars, select plants of even 
si/,e, low bunchy tops if possible, as they are sure to be .strongly rooted ; 
and draw from the bed one at a time. As care must be taken not to 
injure the roots or leaves, the seed-bed should be moi.st enough to let 
the plants be pulled easily. Slender, spindling plants are not desirable 
nor should small ones be set out except to complete a planting. Have 
a care in pulling the young plants from the beds, nor to tear or bruise 
roots or stock, nor keep them out of the ground too long. In setting 
giving the roots their natural position, so as not to cramp them ; draw 
the dn-t nicely around so that they may take food and moisture at once. 
Such attention will pay well and will not delay the work. 

If the ground is wet, or it should rain soon after jilanting, the\- will 



34 THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 

soon take root ; and although they wilt during the day, they will re- 
cover at night. 

The cut worm is the first enemy to be conquered in the field, and he 
is liable to open the attack at once the plants are set, and to keep it up 
until the leaves are five or six inches long ; therefore go over the field 
day after day until the stocks are hardened enough to resist the worm. 
He is readily found. A leaf will be eaten off, or the entire stock, and 
you will see it wilted and partly drawn into his hole. There may be 
one or more. Early morning is the best time to hunt him, as he is 
then nearer the surface ; later in the day the sun drives him deeper in 
the soil. From these pe.sts much replanting will be necessary. Close 
watching will cause them to disappear as plants grow stronger. If the 
plants are not set out until they are strong enough to resist the shock 
of transplanting, the probabilities of a good stand are increased. A 
good plan is to divide the field into three parts. The first portion is 
devoted to the most forward plants in the plant bed. Then as soon as 
a propitious time occurs the second portion is set, and finally the 
third and remaining part of the field. This arrangement provides 
against any of the plants being harvested either too early or too late. 

In an ordinary season the planter can tell within the first day or two 
what hills will need replanting, and to supply such he should ha\e 
in reserve a quantity of thrifty plants. All plants that do not revive 
promptly, or are weak or injured in setting, should be replaced with 
the best that are in the bed, to preserve an even stand over the field, 
and to have the use of the land, for the missing plants would haxe 
been all profit to the farmer. The number of the vacant hills depend 
upon neglect or carelessness at the first planting. 

PLANTS IN THE FIELD. 

Numbers of planters neglect to replace plants which are destroyed 
by insects or die, or which are stunted in growth, and others will re- 
place them, but at too late a day and use inferior plants. No doubt the 
failure to replace is often due to the scarcity of plants, and for this 
reason great care should be taken to have an abundance of plants, and 
as soon as one is destroyed or wilts, replace it with a good, strong 
healthy plant at the first opportunity offered. By this means your To- 
bacco will mature uniformil)- and you will get the be.st results possible 
out of each acre. If you fail to replace plants, you will find, when 
you come to weigh your Tobacco, thatyour yield is far below what you 
expected and what your land should produce. A plant or two missing, 
at short intervals, will materially reduce the yield per acre. If you 
have nothing but weak, stunted plants, the refuse of your plant beds, 
with which to fill up the frecjuent voids, ten chances to one your extra 
care will be thrown away, as the plants may not mature before frosts 
occur, and, at best, yield but a very inferior Leaf, which will detract 
considerably from the intrinsic value of the balance of your crop. 
Planters should therefore bear in mind that to insure good results an 



THE TOBACCO growers' GUIDE. 3$ 



abundance of healthy plants must first be grown, and then all stunted 
or diseased plants or voids must be filled up and replaced with prompt- 
ness by the healthiest plants it is possible to secure. Besides your 
land should be free from all insect germs. Droughts, and violent 
storms cause destruction, but they are not to be dreaded any more 
than the pestiferous fly or worm, which, if unchecked in their march, 
inflict greater injury in one day to a crop than would result from ten 
days of drought, or the most violent storm. — Western Tobacco Journal. 

CULTIVATION. 

There is no great experience required for the proper cultivation of 
the tobacco field, and the grower may leave it all to his farm hand to do, 
only regulating the quantity of tobacco that he puts out by the time 
that can be spared from plowing and attention to other crops. 

The plant does not require much hill, but rather a good body of soil 
between the rows that will hold moisture, and made rich with food 
for the roots that spread through it just under the surface. If the soil 
be nicely pulverized, work with the cultivator may be postponed for 
two or three weeks after planting, but great benefit would be found 
from going over the field pulling by hand whatever weeds are found 
around the plants, and using the hoe to lighten the soil and cut down 
all the weeds between the rows. When the plants are well rooted then 
work with the cultivators must begin, each time going a little 
farther from the plant and not so deep, as the plants increase in size. 
It will be noticed as the growth progresses that when the soil is dis- 
turbed too close to a plant the leaves on that side will wilt. Surface 
cultivation is all that is required, but should be kept up as long as 
it is possible for horse and man to pass between the rows without in- 
jury to the spreading leaves. Grass and weeds must be kept down 
that all nourishment may go to the plant, weeds being the signals of 
careless cultivation. On one farm the land may be only drawn 
upon for food for the crops, while on the next moisture and nourish- 
ment must be furnished to waving weeds and starved plants. The 
utter waste of weeds is always clearly shown in a dry season. It will 
pay to give the crop special attention during the growing season. 
Keep the field free of weeds and do not let the surface of the ground 
become crusted. Shallow cultivation will prevent both, although it 
may be necessar\' to use the hoe to keep the weeds from clo.se around 
the young plants. Pulverize the clods and hoe down the ridges. 

The more frequently the field is gone over the less likely are the 
worms to bother or the grass to annoy. Let the latter get no foothold, 
and the field will be better for it the entire season through. But in all 
events the worms must be kept out, even if it requires that the field 
shall be gone over every other day. The worm begins to feed as soon as it 
emerges from the shell, and grows and increases in size so rapidly that 
it soon becomes a formidable enemy to the farmer, and if not destroyed 
will soon cut the plant in shreds, and, not content with spoiling one 



36 THE TOBACCO GROWERS' GUIDE. 



plant alone, will visit and demolish several more before entering the 
earth and becoming a chrysalis. 

HEALTHY PLANTS. 

Set good healthy plants, and in two to four days cultivate deeply, 
once in a row, without disturbing the ridge ; cultivate again after the 
first rain. When the plants are well rooted, loosen the soil lightly 
around the plants to break the crust and destroy the weeds. Keep the 
soil loose between the rows, and when the plants are about one and one- 
half feet high, use a horse-hoe that will place the fine soil upon the 
side and edge of the ridge. A simple attachment made with two bar- 
rel staves in the shape of a V placed underneath a common cultivator 
will answer the purpose. Very little hand-hoeing is necessary. In 
about one week place more soil around the plant to keep erect. This 
variety of tobacco is very liable to tip over before it is topped, and 
when it does it should be set up at once ; the sooner it is done the less 
the damage. It should be topped so low that the leaves will be about 
as large as any upon the plant when all are ripe. I am aware a wide 
difference of opinion exists as to how much it pays to sucker tobacco, 
but it should be suckered once about half way down, and again clean, 
for the simple reason that suckers suck the juice absolutely necessar}- 
to perfect the leaves, hence the name suckers. A perfect crop cannot 
be obtained unless the suckers are removed, besides it is less liable to 
pole sweat and damage from fat stems and tearing. Tobacco should 
not be cut until it is thoroughly ripe. The practice of cutting a little 
green to obtain a darker color is wrong ; it should be fully matured, 
and if allowed to stand a few days after it is suckered clean, more 
weight and better quality is obtained. Hax'ana Seed usually requires 
four weeks or more to ripen after topping, the slower and darker it can be 
cured the better. Tobacco should be taken down only when in justthe 
right condition. When stripped the butts should be kept exen and the 
leaves tied with two strings in neat bundles of from ten to fifteen pounds 
each. — New England Homestead. 

TOPPING. 

The good judgement of the grovver mu.st be carefully exercised as 
to time and manner of topping, as he alone can decide when his crop 
is ready, and mistakes will be found expensive. One portion of a field 
may be ready to top and the remainder ma}' come in a week later ; this 
is what is planned in planting, so that it will not ripen at once. The 
plant itself will show )'ou when to top. Top when it is in the bud, not 
waiting for the blossom to appear, for strength and nourishment that 
should aid m maturing the upper leaves of the plant will be spent in 
the blossoms. By judicious topping the grower holds for the top leaves 
all nourishing power of the roots, thus driving to maturity the more 
backward portion of the plant, giving even quality to upper and lower 
leaves. 

How to top is to be determined by the probabilit)- for maturing. 



THE TOBACCO growers' GUIDE. ^7 



which depends upon the condition of the plant, fertihty of the soil and 
the season. The temptation to top high comes from the hope of gain- 
ing weight, but this is where the greater number of mistakes are made. 
If the season has been such that topping could be done early, then 
more leaves will mature than if the season were backward. Again, 
from the quality of soil, one field may properly mature sixteen or 
eighteen leaves to the stalk, while in another field eight or ten leaves 
may exhaust the soil. Low topping produces larger leaves, more body 
and firmness, more weight, with less labor, and, ripening earlier, escapes 
the frost. 

A grower urges that to give the plant the proper "spread" close at- 
tention be given to topping ; that it be done when the seed buds show, 
and that as many leaves should be left on the stalk as the grower thinks 
from the quality of soil and condition of the plant will mature. Proper 
topping throws the strength of the plant to the leaves, developing the 
top leaves to ripen with the lower ones, giving even quality and merit 
to the crop. After topping he says, look out for suckers, pluck them 
off at first sight, to give all benefit to the top leaves. Attention of this 
kind will show great results immediately after the crop is hung in the 
shed. He thinks the quality of all leaf is improved after topping in 
proportion to nourishment given. Therefore, no strength must be wast- 
ed in buds or suckers. The life of the upper leaves is cut off by the 
stalk maturing below, but if the plant has been topped in time all will 
ripen alike. 

The question of topping is next in order and, as it is one of the most 
delicate and most important with which the planter has to deal, the 
subject is worthy of the most careful consideration. 

Vou will readily admit that the object in topping is to attain size and 
uniformity in the leaf, but this process is so intimately connected with 
that of cutting that the latter must be held constantly in view if the 
work is to be performed intelligently and successfully. The question 
is, how and when to top. The answer depends largely upon 
the variety of tobacco, and in no small degree upon the condition of 
the crop, the soil and the season. Let us first consider Havana 
Seed and the Hybrids. If you are accustomed to Seed-leaf and 
have had no experience with new varieties you will have need to re- 
member that those new-comers are quick growers and that appear- 
ances, compared with Seed-leaf, will prove deceptive unless this fact is 
faithfully regarded. For in.stance ; Havana Seed makes very . little 
show in the field, as compared with Seedleaf, when it is ready to top. 
The plant literally "makes itself " after topping. If the soil and season 
are favorable and the growth in the twelve to fourteen days intervening, 
between topping and cuttmg will be surprising. For this reason the 
planter accustomed to seedleaf is apt to top too late and too high. The 
safe rule is to top, fourteen to eighteen leaves, as soon as the bud can 
easily be reached. If the bud is allowed to project very high a large 



38 THE TOBACCO GROWERS* GUIDE. 

wound is inflicted in topping and the plant is actually bled. Bear this 
in mind, if you make any mistake at topping it will likely be in the 
direction of late and high topping. It is rare to hear of a crop injured 
by early and low topping. The exact number of leaves to be left must 
be determined by the planter. If too many are left the spectacle of 
"saving at the spigot and letting run at the bung" is presented, for 
while the upper leaves are growing the lower ones are decaying and 
the planter is forced to cut at last with the top leaves half matured to 
make fat stems. The object is to top so that twelve to fourteen days 
will be sufficient to bring all of the leaves left upon the plant to a uni- 
form degree of perfection. Now if the planter could tell in advance 
just what sort of weather would follow, this problem would resolve it- 
self into simplicity itself, but as this is not possible he must top on the safe 
side — that is the low side. Don't wait for rain. — Bulletin. 

SUCKERING. 

The principal buds (one or two at the top of the plant) will start out 
first after topping, if left for a few days ; but they are not to be allowed 
to make much growth — ^just enough so that they can be pinched out. 
If left to grow, they take just so much from the development of the 
leaves, adding nothing to the value of the plant, but rather detracting 
therefrom. The breaking off of these suckers, as they are called, sends 
the growth into the leaves, while at the same time another set of buds, 
one on either side of this principal one, is started out from its dormant 
state, and principal buds lower down on the plant also begin to grow, 
all of which must be broken off as soon as they come to a size sufficient 
to be pinched out with thumb and finger. 

By the time the tobacco is fully ripe the buds have started the whole 
length of the main stem, some of the upper ones having .started a 
second or third set of suckers, from dormant buds. If any of these 
are allowed to get large, they are difficult to remove by breaking, often 
damaging the leaves, even to breaking them off the plant ; if not thus 
bad, often the break leaves a bad wound in the main stalk above the 
leaf petiole, which hold water caught from rains, causing a rot to set 
in ; also, when topping the stalk they should be broken or cut, with a 
clean break, or like results occur to the stalk, causing the leaf at the 
top to fall off, or be otherwise injured. 

Some few years snice I noticed an article, "Secret Remedy," adver- 
tised, pretending to be an antidote to suckering Tobacco, preventing the 
growth of suckers ; but as I never saw it applied, or where it had been 
applied, I am unable to say what it or its effects might be ; but from 
what little knowledge I have of nature and natural laws, in regard to 
the growth of suckers on Tobacco, I should think that anything ap- 
plied, as this was recommended to be, it would prove instead of a benefit, 
a real damage, aside from the labor of applying it, which would not be 
inconsiderable, as it was to be applied at the axil of each leaf where 
suckers would natui'ally grow. As the thing never found much favor 



THE TOBACCO growers' GUIDE. 39 

among practical growers, it soon went the way of many other hum- 
bugs. 

Nothing, probably, can be made an economical substitute for hand 
labor in suckering Tobacco, disagreeable as it is — especially on a hot 
day with a somewhat humid atmosphere. Few can withstand the effects 
of breathing the air of a Tobacco field on such a day with their heads, 
as they naturally have to be, bent over and among the plants, especial- 
ly when suckering is necessarily low down on the plant, just betore 
cutting. Even the most inveterate chewer of the weed I have seen 
acting as if he would like to get rid of something which did not lie 
easy after dinner. 

All the time of topping, suckering, etc., we must be on the lookout 
for the green worms, and the eggs which produce them, as both will 
sometimes be found on the same plant — oftentimes you will overlook 
the young ones, as they are exceedingly small, scarcely half an inch 
long, and no larger through than a fine cambric needle. Although 
one of this size will do but little present damage, that little always 
shows, and as they grower larger rapidly, they in short time are cap- 
able of destroying the larger part of a full grown plant by eating into 
the leaves, often going from one to another. The case being such, too 
much stress cannot be laid upon keeping the crop free of the green 
worm, neither can there be too much vigilance in keeping the crop free 
of weeds, the ground loose and mellow around the plants, from the 
time they begin to grow till they arrive at maturity. Thorough, care- 
ful culture is the rule, not the exception, in growing a good and suc- 
cessful crop of wrapper leaf Tobacco. 

INJURIOUS INSECTS. 

There are a few insects which cause us much trouble in our Tobacco, 
sometimes injuring growth and quality, one or two of which I shall 
here notice. The first and most mjurious I will notice is the "green 
worm," larvae of the "sphinx quinquemaculata" this species is our 
"Tobacco worm." In the south it is "sphinx Carolina." The two sphinxes 
so nearly resemble each other that they are sometimes confounded by 
cultivators. While both kinds may be found in the middle section, the 
true Tobacco worm larvae of South Carolina is only found in the south, 
and the "sphinx quinquemaculata" is the Northern species. The larvae 
of these sphinxes are very destructive to the growing Tobacco unless 
they are closely watched and destroyed. 

With us I have noticed a hornet or yellow wasp which destroyed the 
young larvie of the moth ; the same has been observed in other sec- 
tions and reported. In a somewhat lengthy article on "wasps and their 
habits," in the American Entomologist, is embodied an article, con- 
tributed by Mr. A. Fendler of Missouri, to the Gardners' Monthly, in 
which he states that he found hornets and orange colored wasps busy 
from morning till night during the months of July and August search- 
ing out the worms, and when one is found they roll it into a small ball 



40 THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 

and carry it off; so faithfully did these wasps work that they kept the 
Tobacco quite clean of worms till the approach of cooler weather in 
September; and that some seasons these wasps seemed less 
numerous than others, and that when the most plenty the labor of 
worming was very much less then when few were observed to aid in 
destroying the worms. This agrees with my own and others' observa- 
tions in the Connecticut river valley in regard to these hornets and 
wasps destroying the young larvae of S. quinquemeculata, which here 
works almost exclusively on Tobacco, although an occasional one is 
found on potatoe vines or tomato plants. 

These wasps are unable to carry off the worms after they have at^ 
tained the size of above one inch or so in length, and it is mainly after 
they attain this size that they are the most destructive. The green 
worm does not come on to injure the crop until some growth of plant 
is made, and only end their work of destruction after the plants are hung 
in. the curing barn, if allowed to remain without destroying them. The 
eggs which produce these worms are laid on the under side of the 
leaves, singly, and are only found by close observation, as they are near- 
ly the same color of the leaf, of oval shape, and about the size of a 
small pin's head ; they should be looked out for and destroyed, for they 
hatch out in a few days, and immediately commence to eat away the 
leaf, making minute round holes in the leaf at first ; but they grow- 
fast, molting often, and with increase in growth their eating increases, 
while they move from one place to another. I have known a single 
worm, when nearly full grown, to eat a third, or more, of a good sized 
leaf in a few hours. After attaining full growth, they remain a day or two 
inactive — sort of stupid, after which they bore into the ground, burrow- 
ing therein, and there pass into the chrysalid .state, from which they 
emerge a perfect moth the following spring or early summer. When 
the moths are full grown they measure, with spread wing.s, five or six 
inches ; length of body, from head, two inches or a little over ; their 
trunk, or tongue, which at rest is coiled watch-spring fashion, is four 
or five inches long, to facilitate gathering their food from deep and 
trumpet shaped flowers, which they seem fond of visiting, which habit 
is often taken advantage of in poisoning them by placing some poison- 
ous solution in the flowers or by striking them down and killing. 

The color of the moth is a dusty brown, with five orange colored 
spots on each side of its body, wings double. In common with the 
moth tribe they fly principally at night, laying their eggs and sipping 
their food deep down from trumpet and cup shaped flowers. I have 
often seen them visiting a bed of petunias close beside the door during 
twihght, and they have sometimes entered the house through an open 
door or window. 

Grasshoppers and crickets also eat the leaves on the outer edges of 
the field, giving them a ragged appearance and spoiling them for 
wrappers, but this damage seems confined to a few of the outer rows. 



THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 4I 



The principal reliance for defense must ever be vigilance and constant 
destruction by careful hand picking and destroying. 

CUTTING. 

The upper leaves of the plant will mature rapidly after topping as by 
proper suckering the whole power of the plant has been so directed. 
Greater care is then necessary to be exercised in working about the 
plants that are growing brittle as they so mature. It will 
pay to thus carefully go through the field, worming and straightening 
any leaves to their natural positions that may have been turned up by 
the wind, for the exposure of the under side injures in color and 
quality. 

We believe that the quality of a crop of tobacco, of whatever variety 
may be wholly controlled by the grower, whether it be a wet season or 
tlry season, early or late. In judicious topping he holds for the top 
leaves all nourishing power of the roots, thus driving to maturity the 
more backward portion of the plant. This gives even quality to the 
upper and lower leaves for wrappers. By cutting at the proper time, 
the grower holds the quality for curing. Therefore, the good judgement 
of the farmer shown in the selection of seed, in sowing, transplanting 
and cultivation, must be continued through topping, cutting and curing. 
He alone can decide the proper time for cutting his crop. Topping is 
done as aid in maturing ; cutting when that uniformity is accomplished. 
At this stage — cut, for no advance must be allowed to curing while the 
stock is standing, nor does it do to cut green. A poor crop intelligent- 
ly worked in cutting and curing, will prove much more profitable than 
a good crop neglected. 

Cutting should not be done in the hot portion of the day, for the 
tendency is to sunburn rather than the desirable even wilting of the plant. 
If all other conditions are favorable, the very best time to cut is after 
two o'clock in the afternoon, but even then only so much as can be 
safely housed or hung on the scaffold that day. It should not be piled 
in any great bulk for a long haul to the barn, as the life for anything 
but fillers would be quickly smothered out of it. 

The plant should never be cut when damp from dew or rain ; and 
after a dashing rain, or even a succession of drizzles that wash the 
leaves, if possible, the crop should .stand in the field for two or three 
days. Rain will wash away much of the gummy matter that coats the 
leaf and gives it substance and weight, and the quantit)' of water that 
the broad leaves take up will seriously effect the quality. If the crop 
is not too ripe the leaves will recover their natural condition if left to 
stand a day or two after a rain. 

The plants must never be taken wet into the shed, for pole rot or 
must)' tobacco is sure to be the result. In wet or dry weather if the 
plants are to be left in the barn unhung over night, they should be 
spread out singly for air. Unless rain threatens, it were better to let 
the plants lie in the field over night rather than pile them up any 



42 THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 



where, for in one warm night a crop may be smothered. 

In all varieties of cigar leaf the quality may easily be affected by be- 
ing left standing even a day too long after the plant is matured ; light 
colors will surely be the result of late cutting and even more serious 
lowering in quality is endangered. 

Mr. H. S. Pomeroy, a grower of experience, gives the following hints 
on harvesting. The harvesting is usually done with a knife made for the 
purpose. A broken hoe blade is cut into from the eye down, and these will 
make two knives. Drill two holes near the upper edge of each piece. Saw 
a scarf in the large end of a buggy spoke, or other piece of hard wood, 
insert the hoe blade and fasten with rivets. A broken saw blade or 
other piece of thin steel may be used instead of the hoe blade. A 
knife made in this way is better than a hatchet, as it does not jar the 
plant and break off the leaves. Cut close to the ground so that no 
leaves remain on the stub, and lay carefully on the ground, keeping 
the leaves straight. When wilted just enough to handle without break- 
ing, put four rows of plants in a row of piles, and from twenty to 
thirty plants in a pile. The sticking horse is made of a piece of two 
by tour seven feet long, with two legs at one end, three feet and eight 
inches long, made of fencmg. Make a mortice at upper end of two 
by four three inches deep, to msert the end of lath. A tin spud with 
iron point is slipped on the other end of the lath, and you are now 
ready for sticking. In large tobacco put five or six plants, evenly dis- 
tributed on each lath. In small tobacco put on more but do not crowd. 
To haul to the shed use a rack fitted to the wagon, sixteen or eigh- 
teen feet long and three feet and eight inches wide at the top, and four 
feet high. Commence loading at one end, and press the lath 
close together till the rack is full. A man .standing on top of this rack 
can pass the tobacco to the man hanging as high as the fourth tier or 
story in the shed. Hang the lath about seven inches apart. Small 
tobacco can be hung closer, and very large not so close. When cut- 
ting if the day be hot and clear, no tobacco should be left in the field dur- 
ing the middle of the day, as it would sun-burn. At such times cut in the 
morning, after the dew is off, only what can be taken to the shed 
before dinner. In the afternoon it may not do to commence cutting 
until three or even four o'clock. A part of this may be left out over 
night in piles, to be got in the next morning, if there is no danger of 
rain. Tobacco in snug piles is not damaged much by a light shower, 
but a heavy rain washes the soil out and into the leaves and nearly 
spoils them. Never leave tobacco long in piles if it was piled when hot, 
as it will heat or coddle as it is called. 

WHEN IS rc)B.\cco 1 rr to cut. 

There is two signs that indicate when Tobacco is fit to cut. The leaf 
on close examination appears mottled with spots of a lighter green, 
approaching to orange. Second, the xeinlets on being bent between 
the thumb and finger, breaks off with an audible snap. Tobacco that 



THE TOBACCO GROWERS' GUIDE. 43 

shows both of these signs should be cut at once. Many good growers 
think that the first appearance of the mottled leaf indicates the proper 
time for cutting. Tobacco that shows both of these signs should cer- 
tainly be cut at once. Before the plants are cut they should be "wormed" 
and "suckered" carefully. There is a right way to do the suckering. 
The shoots should not be broken off, leaving a stem one or more inches 
long in the axils of the leaves, but they should be broken out, close 
down to the stalk. If a stem is left, the leaves in curing become folded 
close around it, so that it is nearly impossible to take them off in strip- 
ping without tearing them more or less. The suckers should be picked 
out clear down to the lower leaves. In sultry weather it is unsafe to 
leave a load of Tobacco on the wagon over night, as it is liable to 
damage from heating. The best way to manage loose leaves, is to slip 
the stems of one or two behind a plant after it is hung on the pole. 
The weight of the plant will hold them in place, and they will cure out 
as well as the leaves that are not detached. 

THE SHED OR BARN. 

Various styles of sheds or barns are used for curing tobacco. If 
economy is desired, the shed known as scantling shed, is the best 
and cheapest. This shed is twenty-eight feet wide and three and a 
half tiers high, h^ach bent consists of two pieces of two by four, four- 
teen feet long for outside posts, two pieces two by four, eighteen feet 
long for purlin posts, and one piece four by twenty feet long for center 
posts. Seven pieces of fourteen feet fencing are required for each bent 
for hangers, on which the ends of the lath rest. These hangers are 
nailed to the posts e.xcept the two for bottom tier, which should be ar- 
ranged to slip out while hanging, and thus make two drive-ways, 
lengthwise through the middle of shed. The outside and middle posts 
are put perpendicular and the purlins are slanted. The bottoms of pur- 
lins are put two feet from outside posts, and their tops are about six 
feet from center posts. This is to leave room for drive- 
ways through shed. Put the bents three feet, ten inches apart and build 
as many bents as you require. Build foundation of blocks fourteen to 
sixteen inches high for ventilation at bottom. Stay the shed by braces 
of fencing or scantling, and cover with sixteen feet boards. 

A frame shed of the same dimensions, but with center posts twenty- 
two feet long, having posts of six by six and fourteen feet bents, 
covered with shingle roof, and large double doors for each bent, so as 
to drive crosswise through each bent, makes one of the best sheds now 
in use. Sheds with shingle roofs should have ventilators in roof, and 
a space for ventilation at the bottom of shed. For hangers use poles 
or two by six scantling. In a shed of these dimensions, twenty-one feet in 
length is sufficient for an acre of good sized tobacco. Some hang thick- 
er, but often loose by doing so. As soon as tobacco is in the shed, 
look out for shed-burn. New raisers are often misled by the term shed- 
burn. They think if the tobacco is burning it should be hot. Such is 



44 THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 



not the case. It is usually cool and damp. It is not properly a burn 
but a rot. If it is burning or rotting, you notice a strong tobacco smell 
when on the side of the shed opposite the wind. If the suckers on 
the butts are turned up and growing, and look white, it is a pretty sure 
sign of shed-burn. If the weather is warm and close, tobacco may 
shed-burn, even though there is no rain. When it is found that tobac- 
co is shed-burning, ventilate the shed as much as possible, when the 
weather will permit, but do not let the wind whip the tobacco. If the 
weather is very dry, so that what is cured does not feel damp, keep the 
shed closed as tight as you can. If the weather gets very cold before all the 
leaves and stems are cured, the green portion will freeze, causing 
what is known as fat stems. 

TO BUILD A TOBACCO SHED. 

In answer to questions as how to build a tobacco shed, we would sa)- 
there are various ways to build and ventilate a shed, each one having 
some merit. Probably as good, if not the best way, is the latest Penn- 
sylvania shed which is constructed on the following general plan: In 
the first place a cellar is built under the whole shed, the walls being 
built so that the first floor of the shed will be a trifle over three feet 
above the ground. Part of this cellar is divided off and a floor put 
down to be used as a stripping and assorting room. The rest is used 
as a damp and dark cellar in which the tobacco is hung after being 
taken from the poles. This puts it in a splendid condition for stripping. 
The shed is built on these cellar walls with a doorway at either end to 
drive in and out of. Ventilators are placed on the roof of the shed, one, 
two or three, according to the size of the shed. At the bottom of the 
shed, on all sides, doors three feet wide open from the floor, the hinges 
being placed on the upper edge, the doors swinging up. These doors 
are never less than three feet wide. Then between the tiers there are 
small doors, ten inches wide, hung in the same manner. In addition 
to the ventilators on the roof, frequently ventilators are placed in the 
gables also. These ventilators above and also the upper doors, are 
controlled from below by means of cords and pulleys. These doors 
between the tiers are only open on very close and sultry days, when 
there is danger of burn. The wide opening at the bottom, (below 
where any of the tobacco is hung, so that the wind cannot whip it and 
damage it,) with the ventilators on the roof give an excellent circulation 
o( air through the slied, a better and more uniform temperature can be 
kept, and the tobacco cures down with a better color, and the shed is 
much easier to handle. This describes, in a very general way, what is 
considered, in Pennsylvania, the best and most practical shed for the 
curing of tobacco. The putting of the tobacco in a damp cellar after 
it is taken down from the poles, keeps it in fine condition for handling 
at any and all times. 

HOW TO BUILD A SHED FOR CIGAR LEAF. 

In speaking of the construction of a Tobacco shed or barn, an ex- 



THE TOBACCO GKOWERS' GUIDE. 45 



change says : 

From experience and information we gather from exchanges, we 
say : A shed twenty-eight feet wide, fourteen feet high, and long 
enough to accommodate the crop raised, twenty-four feet being long 
enough to hold one acre, the bents being twelve feet each. Commenc- 
ing at the plates, the tiers should be four feet and three inches apart ; 
this will give a wide space at the bottom for ventilation. Commencing 
at the outside to hang the Tobacco, will leave a space in the middle of 
about three feet up through the shed for the air to pass. The shed 
should be boarded horizontally or around the building. At the bottom 
of the shed, on all sides, doors should open from the ground, the 
hinges being placed on the upper edge, the doors swinging up. These 
doors should be three feet wide, and between the tiers there should be 
small doors ten inches wide hung in the same manner. Ventilators 
are placed on the roof, one in each bent and gable. The doors between 
the tiers are open when the Tobacco is first put in, and on very close 
and sultry days, when there is danger of burn, the wide opening at 
bottom should be below where any of the Tobacco is hung, so that the 
wind can not whip and damage it. 

With the ventilators open in the roof it gives an excellent circulation 
of air through the entire shed, a better and more uniform temperature 
is kept, and the Tobacco cures down with a better color and the shed 
is much easier to handle. Immediately after hanging, the Tobacco 
should have as much ventilation as possible for the first week or ten 
days, or until the leaves become thoroughly yellowed, and the ventila- 
tion should be given in such a way that the wind will not bruise the 
leaves. After the plant has become thoroughly yellowed care must be 
taken that it does not cure too fast. This may be prevented 
by closing the ventilators, as Tobacco cures by evaporation, and a shed 
built in this way can be more easily controlled than a shed with per- 
pendicular doors, and with such horizontal ventilation as we have 
described. The shed could be built tight, boarded with strip lath, and 
avoid weather-beaten Tobacco. The driveway can be arranged to drive 
lengthways. It is very important to have a tight roof In Pennsyl- 
vania a cellar is built under the whole shed, the walls being built so 
that the first floor will be about three feet above the ground. Part of 
this cellar is partitioned off and a floor put in ; this room is used for 
stripping and assorting, the rest is a damp, dark cellar, which is used 
for storing the Tobacco after stripping, which keeps it in splendid con- 
dition for assorting. 

Mr. Geo. W. Price, a builder of a great many tobacco sheds, furnishes 
the following lumber bill for a regular barn shed having a capacity for 
five acres. Size of shed 28x70 feet, 18 feet po.sts. Six pieces 6x8, 
twenty-eight feet long ; eighteen pif.-ces 6x8, eighteen feet long ; six pieces 
6x6, twenty-eight feet long ; six pieces 6x6, twenty-four feet long ; three 
pieces 6x6, twenty-six feet long ; sixteen pieces 4x6, fourteen feet long ; 



46 THE TOBACCO GROWERS' GUIDE. 



twenty pieces 4x4, fourteen feet long ; seventy -two pieces 2x6, eighteen 
feet long ; 4,000 feet dimension boards, eighteen feet long ; 2,500 feet roof 
boards, sixteen feet long ; twenty thousand shingles ; 175 pieces, hangers 
2x6, fourteen long. 

CURING TOBACCO. 

An important and exceedingly interesting feature in handling tobac- 
co is the process of curing, and it is one which calls for the exercise of 
the best judgement of the planter, and will readily yield him the desired 
result for intelligent application of approved modes and principle's. Ex- 
perience shows that abuse of these fixed rules as quickly results in in- 
jury and degradition of the crop. In the curing the planter is to get 
out of the crop whatever of profits he is to have on his money and 
labor put in ; therefore after the tobacco is safely hanging in the sheds, 
increased care and watchfulness are necessary, and the best approved 
rules are to be followed. 

The Dayton (Ohio) Journal urges that an even curing of a crop can 
only be had by a steady process that must not be checked, and to re- 
tain quality and obtain desirable color, should not be too rapid. That 
curing may be in perfect control of the grower, everything ordinarily 
depending upon ventilation. The Journal further says that the best 
authorities agree that when the weather is cool and damp the sheds 
should be left open, with no danger that the curing will be too fast, and 
that free circulation then will go far in securing dark colors. Of course, 
it is understood that the ventilators are to be kept open in fair weather 
until the curing is quite completed, making sure that the top leaves 
may dry out and green ones cure before freezing cold weather comes, 
always having caution against pole sweat and shed burn. When the 
crop is well cured down, except the stems, it is recommended that the 
doors be opened during moderate rain, as the color will be improved 
by moisture. The grower using his judgement as to the necessity for 
control of the temperature of the shed, may build pit fires in the ground 
floor, but the smoke should not pass through the tobacco. A covered 
flue could be made along the ground through the centre of the shed 
to a pipe or chimney at the end. A better plan, however, would be to 
have the fires in stoves, with pipe passing through the shed from end 
to end, the more pipe the better. A steam boiler may be located in the 
shed, but the heating must be done by coils of pipe, as steam direct 
would greatly injure the tobacco. 

In hot, sultry damp weather, when there is no air stirring, the sheds 
must be closed tighly, and to prevent pole sweat, it may be necessary 
to start the fires, for if such murky weather continues long, the stems 
are liable to rot. 

Leaf tobacco will ciue down rapidly in extreme dry, wind)' weather, 
therefore the effort in such dry season must be to retard this drying 
out, so that even curing may slowly and regularly progress. The doors 
and ventilators are to be kept closed, a number of tubs of water should 



THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 



47 



be placed in the shed, or the floor be thoroughly saturated with water, 
and the operation be often repeated while the dry spell shall continue, 
the farmer making frequent examination of crop to see that the air in 
the shed is not too damp and soggy, that the leaves do not become so 
moist as to entirely stop the process of curing, the desire being only to 
secure cool, damp atmosphere. 

Ventilators and doors ot sheds should be closed during a storm, but 
again opened as soon as it has passed. Winds do damage by cracking 
the leaves, and carrying in dust. Cattle and poultry should also be 
shut out. 

With open sheds the tobacco is entirely exposed to the changes of 
weather, now damp and soggy, then dry and dusty, the strength and 
merit of the crop being thus wasted. Such sheds are but little improve- 
ment over the pioneer way of hanging tobacco in beech trees. The 
rickety old sheds are but monuments of the ignorance and slovenliness 
of the owner, and evidence of poverty-stricken crops that it is beSt to 
shun. What is left of such trashy crops after storms have blown 
through and heat dried out, becomes gritty with dust and poultry ma- 
nure, and foul with rot. 

It is not necessary that fine tobacco barns be built, but every grower 
should have a weather proof shed, or quit. 

A writer in the Wisconsm Tobacco Reporter says: "It is pertty 
certain that the weather has much to do with curing. It is well known 
that, in some season, the tobacco in a certam section will rule light in 
color, while in another year dark colors will prevail, and at other times 
heavey losses result from pole burning. These variations of quality 
probably result from the general character of the weather during the 
process of curing, and serve to indicate laws which rarely fail. These 
are that rapid curing tends to produce light colors, and slow curing 
dark colors. With the light colors there is likely to be other undesir- 
able qualities, such as rust, white veins, poor texture, etc. It is general- 
ly believed that very rapid drying tends to produce undesirable qualities 
in the cured leaf, and therefore the curing barn should be so arranged 
as to prevent rapid curing during dry weather. In damp, murky 
weather there is also danger from pole burn while the tobacco is green 
and care must be exercised to prevent this. 

"Right here is a point where a difference in opinion occurs. It is 
my practice to keep the ventilating doors of the curing barn open dur- 
ing hot, iowry, damp weather, so as to encourage a circulation of air 
among the plants. There are good growers who follow the reverse 
course, and keep all doors closed during periods of damp weather, 
whether the weather is damp or cool, their argument being that, by 
keeping the building tight, the hot, damp air is excluded. Which of 
these opinions is right I do not know, but it is pretty certain that a 
certain degree of heat and dampness will affect tobacco seriously, 
whether the doors are opened or closed, and for this reason few or no 



48 THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 



trrowers are exempt from damage to their tobacco from pole sweats. 
The best advice that I can give on this subject is to keep the curing 
barn closed tightly during the periods of dry, windy weather, and to 
encourage a free circulation of air during damp weather." 

The American Cultivator attributes pole sweating to hot, sultry, 
damp weather. When moisture collects on the hanging plants, and 
remains there without a sufficient wind to dry it off, then we expect 
and look for pole sweating, and, if of long continuance, oftentimes stem 
rot is found. The rain will be of great benefit to late pieces of tobacco, 
where but recently topped. We think, if the frosts do not interfere, 
that the late set plants, where the plant has not ceased to grow, will be 
greatly benefitted by a rapid growth, as well as by helping to mature 
the plants. 

Says the Maimsburg Bulletin : Anybody can dry tobacco, but cur- 
ing is a process requiring intelligent supervision. The whole secret of 
successful curing is comprehended in the slow and uniform evaporation 
of the juices of the plant. The elements involved in this delicate change 
are light, air, heat and moisture. It is rare indeed that the curing sea- 
son throughout continues so favorable as to relieve the planter of all re- 
sponsibility in the management of the elements that affect his crop in 
the shed, but if the methods heretofore presented to the growers 
have found favor among them they are now in position to take 
advantage of the vicissitudes of the season and reduce the work in cur- 
ing to a minium. 

Closed sheds, with openings only around the bottom and under the 
eaves, exclude the tobacco miller that bores the leaf, the light that 
bleaches it, the storms that pelt and the wind that whips it, while at the 
same time it establishes a circulation of air, to be attained so perfectly 
by no other means, and permits the planter to control the conditions 
necessary to perfect curing. The application of water to the ground 
under the sheds in protracted drought, and burning fires in pits when the 
weather is extremely wet, are means that the intelligent planter will not 
neglect to maintain the conditions necessary in perfect curing which, 
in this day, is a positive, unvarying, systematic process, and not a ques- 
tion of chance at all. 

SHED BURNING. 

Some seasons this cannot be avoided. We have seen a single stick 
hanging in an open shed, injured in this way. The most of this results 
from crowding on the sticks, or in the tiers. It is not so much the want 
of drafts of air, but the pressure of one leaf or stalk against another. 
As the sticks are placed in the tier, the stalks should occupy its entire 
length and swing clear of the tier below. The idea is, to occupy all 
the space possible, but avoid pressure. During the process of curing 
give all the sun and air possible. Close up in rainy weather. Should 
house burning set in, it can be readily detected by the rotten, pungent 
smell when to the windward of the barn. We think there is no alter- 



THE TOBACCO GROWERS' GUIDE. 49 



native but to let it burn. We can not advise the use of fire, because 
the smoke is ruinous ; nor scaffolding out, for, when once in the sun 
the life and color seem to depart in the drying. 

For fear that some may think we over-draw in the importance of good 
handling, we propose to give briefly the reason of our faith. We hope 
we may not be deemed egotistical. During the last fifteen years, be- 
sides taking more than a thousand dollars in premiums, our tobacco 
has averaged twenty cents per pound or more. Four years of that 
time it has brought twenty cents or over. Two years it has fallen be- 
low fifteen cents — the dry weather of 1881 being one of them. As 
poor as this crop was we gave it all the attention and care we would 
give the best. Our farm has no fresh fields of bluegrass or woodland 
pastures, but the most of the tobacco has been grown on fields that 
have been in alternate crops for fifty years. We give in a nutshell the 
principal causes of our success : Handle while tresh from the knife ; 
scafford either in the barn or at the barn ; allow no rain to fall on it, or 
high winds to shake it up ; select into five classes ; order your tobacco 
in your own barns ; pack into hogsheads honestly ; sell in August or 
September, after the effect of the "sweat" is determined. These have 
been our rules during our whole experience in tobacco growing. 

We can not close without a word in behalf of the tobacco lands of 
our State. Other crops grow so readily after it that many 
farmers follow it with one or more crops of corn. The land being in a 
high state of cultivation, is easily washed by rains, and the difficulty 
of securing a stand of grass is largely increased. We sow to wheat, 
then to bluegrass and clover. — Ky. Grower. 

PREPARING THE CROP FOR MARKET. 

Nothing is gained by selling on the poles except to be among the 
first sales, for the tobacco must be delivered in good condition or the 
grower is responsible for at least the full damage. He may as well 
wait until his crop is in condition 'to sell, especially when the supply is 
short. The possession of a fine crop on the poles is quite different 
from having sold and delivered the whole crop in good condition, for 
many accidents are liable to happen to it by a warm or-cold sweat. 
Large quantities are yearly damaged by lack of knowledge of the prop- 
er condition it should be in when taken down, but more from neglect. 

The sooner tobacco is taken down after the stem is cured the better. 
If the colors are uneven, they will become as near uniform in the pile 
after it is stripped as by hanging, if taken down in proper condition and 
kept so. Some crops will allow of a damper condition than others. 
Leaf of good body and strong fiber can be taken down when damper, 
than a thin and papery leaf Early in the season it should not be damp as 
after. The only good rule to determine when it is in proper condition 
to take dow;j is to clasp the leaves near the tip of the plant and squeeze 
tightly ; when the pressure is removed and they expand in a few seconds 
and are stained but very little, the crop is just right to take down. It 



50 THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 



should be watched while dampening to guard against rain driving in at 
the doors. If the outside plants get wet or too damp, hang them up 
until dried sufficiently. Make a floor of sawed poles, plank or boards 
laid on the ground edge to edge, and pile the plants, a small armful at 
a time, about two feet high. If early in the season, lap the tips about 
one-third the length of the plants, using only the hands to press them 
down. If the stalks are frozen, do not take it down until it stops drip- 
ping, as the juice will stain the leaf The sooner it is stripped after 
taking down, the better, as the leaves are liable to stick to the stalk and 
get stained and be torn when stripped. If it is warm when taken down 
it will soon heat and should be examined frequently. On the first in- 
dication of heating, carefully lay the pile over, making it about one- 
half as high as before and lay as loose as possible. In stripping keep the 
butts even and free from suckers. If an occasional fat stem is found 
lay them on poles until cured ; do not tie them. Lay the leaves straight 
in boxes made of plamed boards seven or eight inches at the bottom 
and eight or nine at the top, eight inches high and three feet long. Such 
a box will hold bundles to weigh twelve to sixteen pounds. Press the 
leaves with the hands or lightly with the knees. 

Making single bundles, using two strings, one about five inches from 
the butts, the other near the tips, but where the bundle is full size. Lay 
the bundles on their side and don't pile them until thoroughly cooled 
through. Make the platform for bundles three to six inches above the 
ground, of straight edged poles or plank, and cover it with paper (most 
any old newspaper will do). Lay the bundles tip to tip on the paper 
and cover the pile with paper first and then with boards. The paper 
keeps the tobacco clean and prevents evaporation. The outside will be 
in good condition however drj' the weather may be. Let the butts be 
exposed to the air to dry or cure. When the weather becomes cold 
pile the bundles three or four high, choosing a mild or damp 
day to pile them. Examine the pile frequently, and if it be- 
gins to get warm, air the bundles thoroughly. If it should 
get quite warm, untie and spread them, turn them often, and 
don't leave them until thoroughly cooled and covered, but don't pile 
the bundles again for a while. — New England Homestead. 

ASSORTING TOBACCO. 

Assortmg tobacco is so essential that a few suggestions from us in 
reference to the subject may not come amiss. We would suggest to as- 
sort in four qualities. Make what are called long wrappers — then short 
ones, and after these selections make binders, or B's ; then follow the 
poorest grade called ordinarily fillers, or C's. The long and short 
wrappers should be sized, by which we mean the leaves in the respect- 
ive kinds should be made the same length as near as can be. W^e 
learn that in Pennsylvania some of the growers use measures in sizing 
up their wrappers, and in this way they make their long and short 
wrappers look neatly, the leaves being of nearly the same length and 



THE TOBACCO GROWERS' GUIDE. $1 



color in making up the hands. And again, there should be good sense 
and discrimination used in selecting the colors so that they will be about 
the same in each case. In other words, keep the yellowish or light 
colored leaves by themselves and pack them also by themselves. By 
doing this the assorter will be able to make the colors run even. We 
think some sorters have measures on their assorting tables by which 
they are enabled to classify their selections very accurately and preserve 
uniform length by so doing. 

At all events, it is well to keep the lengths even of the respective 
kinds if one wishes to have neat and uniform looking hands. The 
binders — third quality — should also be selected with care and with 
reference to making them run uniformily the same as to size ; but there 
is no need of being so particular about colors in selecting them, since 
the B's are made from an under wrapper or binder, and the colors, of 
course, do not show in the cigars. The B's should be cleanly and neatly 
assorted and should be free from unmerchantable tobacco. The fourth 
quality, or the fillers — in these days of h'gh prices — are of much con- 
sequence to all concerned. When crops are brought "round," or so 
much per pound through, they cost the buyer just as much per pound 
as the higher grades in the same purchase. They should be assorted 
with due reference to this fact as well as with regard to having them 
neatly, cleanly, systematically and honestly tied and packed up. We 
are very glad, indeed, to know that our growers in this section at least 
are making marked improvements in putting up their C's, or, as the 
growers sometimes call them, 'iufjs." The tobacco should be in first- 
class order when it is taken down from the poles, and kept so until it 
goes in to the case for market. The hands as fast as made up should 
be taken care of at once, placed securely in the hank or cases so as 
not to dry out by careless exposure. When once in good order .strive 
to keep your tobacco in that condition. Some people get nervous and 
take their tobacco down from the poles when it is not fit, and to all 
such we would say that when once in bad condition it is very difficult 
to get in order again. In assorting make the respective sorts good, 
and we think it a bad plan to make more wrappers than there really 
are. Make the wrappers strictly good, and the others ditto. — Baldwjns- 
ville Gazette. 

From an experience of many years I believe it is best that the aver- 
age tobacco grower should sell his crop in the bundle. As a rule, he 
is not sufficiently versed in the business to assort the crop in a proper 
manner. He does not fully understand the requirements of the trade. 
Though assorted ever so well by the growers, such tobacco will sell 
as farmers' packing. Again, the leaf requires to be packed at a uni- 
form degree of moisture, at least when of the same quality. Nice dis- 
crimination is needed to secure the best results. The average farmer, 
who raises from one to three acres of the weed annually, probably 
only packs his own crop, and often this is done in a very unworkman- 



52 THE TOBACCO GROWERS' GUIDE. 



like manner, thus causing considerable damage to what might other- 
wise, with good packing, sell for from one to three cents more per 
pound. Oftentimes there will be even more difference in prices. A 
dealer knows that much depends on the appearance of his packing, if 
every hand lies straight and compact and round in the box it looks 
well. Under the packing of experts, the boxes will be of the proper 
size and uniform in appearance, each box containing just so many 
pounds. In fact, everythmg will be done systematically. The farmer 
should also recollect that there is a loss in assorting of from two to 
four pounds to the lOO pounds. That the assorting properly costs 
about one and a half to two cents per pound, and the boxes about one- 
fourth of a cent per pound. So the shrinkage and labor in assorting is 
fully equal to two cents per pound, hence eighteen cents in the bundle 
is fully equal to twenty cents packed. When satisfactory prices can- 
not be obtained, then the farmer has to pack his crop, in which case he 
should do everything squarely and in a workmanlike manner. When 
the tobacco is tied up in bundles, short ones are the most convenient to 
handle. It is better to have them of pretty good size, say from fifteen 
to twenty pounds or even more, in weight. When the bundles are 
packed, care must be taken to pack them as closely and compactly as 
possible, to prevent their drying up. When the pile is so arranged 
that the leaves dry up and get broken much damage is done. And if 
the pile doesn't show proper care, it rather has the effect to give the 
dealer an unfavorable first impression. — Hill Top in American Culti- 
vator. 

STRIPPING OF TOBACCO. 

Many superstitious and erroneous notions as to the proper time for 
.stripping are still entertained, not only by planters, but among buyers 
also. Planters are inclined to listen to and adopt the opinions of any 
man who presents himself as a buyer, though he be utterly ignorant of 
the scientific cultivation and care of the weed. It must be remembered, 
too, that buyers, as well as planters, are classed as first, second, third, 
fourth and fifth rate in the hair-splitting head centers of the trade. 
Sound advice will always commend itself to reason, or at least time 
will commend or condemn the claims of all "tobacco talkers" who as- 
sume to speak with authority. 

We submit the following propositions : 

I. — There is but (jne projjer time to strip tobacco — all others are 
wrong. 

2. — The proper time to strip tobacco is when the rib is cured — not 
sooner ; nor later. 

You will admit the truth of the first proposition, but with some the 
second may be open to doubt. Let us inquire a little further. 

When tobacco is cured, it is cured, and that is end of that. U al- 
lowed to hang longer, the same elements that wrought the con.structive 
change in the greenleaf and presented the beautiful, dark, glos.sy color 



THE TOBACCO GKOWKKS' GUIDE. 53 

when cured, will contkiue to act. If, for any reason, you fail to move 
it at the critical period in any of the successive stages during the per- 
fection of the leaf, you can never recall your opportunity. 

Let the planters of tobacco lay this verity to their hearts — Tobacco 
never stands still ! It will not wait your convenience, in the seed, in 
the field, or in the shed. 

We hear that some ignorant persons are advising planters to leave 
their tobacco hang, and we are in receipt of inquires from growers of 
Spanish as to the proper time to strip. The talk about let- 
ting tobacco hang after the rib is cured at the butt is nothing short of 
nonsense. Take it down and strip it — the sooner the better. The 
essential oil, which gives lustre, flavor, sweating and burning quality in 
the leaf, is leaching out, slowly but surely, every day it is left hanging 
after the curing process is perfected. 

Look at in this way : Suppose you let your tobacco hang two years — 
what would be the result? Can you imagine how it would look? 

Many of you remember that tobacco left hanging in the shed too 
long, a few years ago, molded at the tips, and all of you are aware that 
tobacco was left too long last year. Crops tiius treated lost twenty- 
five per cent of their luster and vitality, and went into the warehouses, 
dry, husky and in bad shape generally. 

Tobacco, especially the fine grades, will require close watching from 
this time forth, the object being to avoid the extreme of temperature 
and moisture, and to preserve an equitable state. This is best accom- 
plished in tight sheds with vaults and comfortable stripping rooms. — 
Bulletin. 

HOW TO TIE TOBACCO HANDS. 

It used to be a custom some years ago to tie the hands of tobacco too 
large entirely. The}^ are now tied much smaller. This is right. We 
have contended and still contend that from fifteen to twenty leaves in 
a hand are enough. The growth and size of the leaves, however, may 
make some difference in regard to the number of leaves that should 
be put into a hand. The suggestion, however, is a wise one that hands 
should not be made too large — should not be made up in a bungling 
and awkward manner. When the stems of the leaves are 
thoroughly cured out so they are dry, the leaf which is used to tie the 
butts, should in all cases be tied closely to the ends of the butts in or- 
der to make the hands look neatly. There is nothing like neatness 
and s)'stem in putting up tobacco, if one desires to find a ready market 
for it. A neatly assorted and handsomely tied up lot of tobacco will 
always command attention and sell well, provided the leaf be naturally 
good. It is the badly assorted and heedlessly and carelessly tied up 
lot that is neglected by the buyer. Only in cases of this last resort, 
when there are no finely assorted lots in the market to be had, does the 
dealer seek for the bunglingly handled parcels of tobacco. He seeks 
for those parcels first which are known to have been well handled in 



54 THE TOBACCO GROWERS GUIDE. 



every respect. There is much to be gained by tying the hands well. 
Some growers tie them one and one-half inches doi^n from the ends of 
the butts, while those who wish to make their hands show a good 
length of leaf and carry with them "an air of neatness," tie them close 
to the ends of the butts, say not over one-half to three-fourths of an 
inch down. Then after the assorter has tied up his tobacco neatly, \vc 
think there is much to be gained in keeping the hands in good shape 
and first-class order. A sprawling, fan-shaped hand, always looks bad- 
ly. The hand, in our opinion, should be kept in sound, straight form — 
and then let it be placed either in the case, if fit to be packed, or in 
the bank or "rank," where, if the butts are not properly cured out, the 
air and weather will soon effect the desired result. 

After tobacco is assorted and tied up in accordance with the most 
approved methods, the next important thing we have to perfortn in re- 
spect to its care, is to see to it that it is immediately placed in a non- 
exposed condition, so that it will not be injured by drying out, and then 
become harsh and non-pliable. When once in order, we believe it 
ought not to be neglected. The growers of Onondaga county have a 
bright future before them in making this the banner county for raismg 
fine tobacco, if they put it up beyond fair criticism. — Baldwinsville (A. 
Y.) Gazette. 

A HUVERS' E.KPERIENJCE. 

Mr. Albert Tag gives the following as his experience with growers : 
There is almost the same difference betw(*en different crops ot tobac- 
co as there is between a like number of men. Tliose who are con- 
scientious, careful, and divide their labors between their brain and hands 
with honesty of purpose have invariably delivered then- product in a 
very satisfactory shape and have not had a word, while others, who 
fortunately are in the small minority, thought all there was necessary after 
their tobacco was sold, was to throw it from the hanger on to the jiiks 
and tear off the leaves; and all the leaves, whether good or without 
value, walk over them, bundle the tobacco, bring it in and get their 
money. 

The.se men can be easily recognized by the manner in which the\' 
keep up their farms — or rather, keep them down — by the manner in 
which they do everything slovenly, and these men are the most diffi- 
cult to deal with. They do not want to see that their neighbor, who has 
given his time, attention and labor to the handling of his tobacco, is 
entitled to better treatment at the buyers' hands ; they have the trouble 
and annoyance which is more laborious and disagreeable than the little 
extra work it would have taken to do things right in the first place. 
So, one who delivered his trash, sweepings and everything, bearing 
only the faintest semblance at having been connected, at some period 
with a tobacco plant, when asked, replied that he "supposed that every- 
thing that crrew on the stalk was bouijht under the contract." 



THE TOBACCO GKOVVKKS' GUIDE. 55 



It is essential that the farmers in this neighborhood should be 
thoroughly posted on the handling — that is sortnig their tobacco. If 
they once know this they will not be at a loss to know what to do with 
their tobacco. It is bound to happen sooner or later that they will be 
obliged to hold their tobacco through the summer. Those who con- 
tinue the handling as poorly as tiiey commence it, will have nothing to 
sell in September ; and if they once know what loss of time, of weight, 
their carelessness occasions in the warehouses, they can no longer be 
excused on the plea of ignorance, but become accusable of downright 
dishonesty, and naturally get such a reputation that it will be a difficult 
matter for them to market their tobacco. The first thing to be observed 
with brashy, sandy leaves, is that they weigh but very little ; that they 
deface the appearance of the whole crop in the shed ; that in dry- 
ing the sand drops off on to the better leaves and that they appear to 
be in much greater numbers than they really are, thus reducing the 
crop in tiie eyes of the j^i-ospective buyer whose experience teaches him 
to put but little confidence in the assurances of the grower that he will not 
attempt to deliver anything but what is exactly as it should be. The 
better plan is — cut the stalk higher up from the ground. It reduces 
the bulk in the shed to some extent, thus securing the better ventila- 
tion and avoid danger of pole sweat, making a clean looking crop 
which everybody will be anxious to secure. And should it not be prac- 
tical to cut high from the ground, the poor leaves can be removed very 
easily hangmg in the shed. 

PRICE vs. CARE. 

Growers claim, and in this they are supported by the trade, that the 
crop of 1884 when fairly handled was of unusual merit. Yet a great 
many are grumbling because the price is not greater. It should be re- 
membered when this question of price is considered, that prices for to- 
bacco are more nearly up to the standard of 1883 than any other pro- 
duct. Hard times and the tumble in everything has affected tobacco 
less than any other product of the soil. Then again, the skill and 
painstaking efforts of the grower afifect the price more than anything 
else. A man don't need to be thoroughly versed in the tobacco busi- 
ness to see that. All that is necessary to a man of ordinary business 
sense is to visit a tobacco market and note the difference 
in the handling of tobacco by different men, and then look at the differ- 
ence in price they get. it is with tobacco ju.st as it has been with the 
butter business. 1 he difference in the price is caused almo.st wholly by 
the difference in the men who produce it. There are hundreds of but- 
ter makers who are glad to get eighteen cents a pound for their butter, 
and right beside of them are men who are getting thirty cents. The 
cost of producing the poorest butter was just as great, yet a little good 
brains, patience and skill makes one pound worth twelve cewts more 
than the other. 



56 THE TOBACCO GROWERS' GUIDE. 



One tobacco grower cares for his tobacco as it ought to be done and 
handles it rightly. He puts good sense into the work every step of the 
way, and sells his crop from one to five cents a pound more than his 
neighbor, who is too smart in his own estimation to "putter around over 
a little tobacco." A great many men terribly hate to take a little pains; ter- 
ribly hate to bestow a little care, time and attention on any given work. 
They seem to think it beneath their dignity to look after small things. 
They propose only to deal with large matters. Such men usually sell their 
butter for twelve cents less a pound than their neighbor, and their to- 
bacco from one to five cents than the man who is not ashamed to "putter." 
A poor judgement causes poor execution, and both may be often traced 
to this foolish despising of the day of small things. A thorough man 
is one that insists on finishing a job. If it requires "puttering" or 
fine work, at it he goes. Tobacco raising and handling is essentially full 
of fine judgement and fine painstaking work. Butter making is the 
same. A lazy man and one of coarse judgement had better keep out 
of either. — Ft. Atkinson Union. 

HOW TO SAMPLE TOBACCO. 

When sampling, after removing the case from the bunch, it is generally 
broken first about a third of the way from the bottom and two hands 
drawn, then about the same distance from the top of the bunch, and 
two or more hands taken out. Then go to the other end of the bunch, 
it is broken about in the middle and two more hands drawn, and from 
these hands thus drawn a sample of the case is made up. Now it is 
very evident that if all the low grade hands are packed in the centre it 
will not show as it should. Suppose that twenty-five or thirty hands 
that do not rank with the rest, but are better than No. 2, are all placed 
in the centre, or where the break is made, some of these hands find 
their way into the sample. We had better far put them on the outside 
of the case, where they can be plainly seen. Outside hands do not 
sweat as hard as those on the inside, and it is better that these should 
be of the poorest quality that is to be packed in the case. They are 
scarcely fit for wrapping cigars, unless it is resweat, and then perhaps 
on a cheaper article. Do not, however, infer from anything here said 
that we favor siding with low grade seconds. By no means ; only use 
the kind you have made. In this you will always find the class we are 
speaking of This we call packing honestly for both seller and buyer. 

-SELLING. 

Anybody can grow a good crop in a good season, but in periods of 
drought or flood the reading, thinking, enterprising planter will be found 
on top. If you have faithfully and intelligently observed the methods 
you have a fine crop and are ready to sell. 

The old way of selling was to wait until your neighbor sold, see 
what he got, and demand the same price for your crop. The buyers 
soon learned to bu}' a poor crop to begin with, or to secure a good crop 



THE TOBACCO GROWERS' GUIDE, 57 

at a low figure of some planter who was in desperate need of money, 
and thus established a price for a whole neighborhood. 

There is such a thing as asking too much as well as too little for a 
crop, and as both defeat a sale one is as bad as the other. 

To fairly estimate the value of a crop one must learn the purpose 
for which it is used, the source of supply and demand and the causes 
which influence th«ii. Such information is furnished by trade papers. 
The intelligent planter who has read these papers carefully during the 
season is acquainted with the condition of crops in competing states 
as well as his own, and has had such facts presented to him from 
time to time during the year as will enable him to fix such a price 
upon his crop as he will be able to realize. 

WISCONSIN CAN RAISE THE CIGAR WRAPPING TOBACCO FOR THE WORLD. 

It may seem to many an extravagant statement but we believe never- 
theless true, that to-day the profits in the culture of tobacco in Wis- 
consin are greater than any other state in the Union. There is a limited 
section in the North Carolina district producing the finest qualities of 
the "bright" leaf where prices rule higher than here, but the yield per 
acre falls far below that of our own state and the average profits much 
smaller. We have before us a circular of a Clarkville, Tenn., firm who 
quote prices on a very large proportion of Southern tobaccos, running 
from 4 to 12 cents and averaging not over 8 cents per pound.' None of 
the cigar producing tobacco states have sold their '84 crop at higher 
prices than Wisconsin growers, while many are receiving much lower 
prices, while the cost of producing the crop in any of the states exceeds 
that of this state from 50 to 100 per cent. To go farther into details 
let us here present a statement produced at a club of tobacco raisers of 
Chemung Valley, New York, considering the cost of raising tobacco. 
They were men of larg^ experience and it was decided that several 
processes in the cultivation should be estimated carefully by each one, 
and their estimates then grouped and an average struck. Here is the 
result of their work: 

Rent of land including maniu-e, per acre ^^40.00 

I'lowing twice, harrowing and ridging, per acre 5'<^0 

Plants, per acre 3.00 

Setting plants, per acre 3.00 

Re-setting, per acre 1. 50 

Cultivating five times, per acre 3.75 

Hoeing twice, per acre 7-00 

Worming, per acre 9.00 

Topping, per acre .75 

Suckering, per acre , . 4.75 

Cutting aiul hanging, per acre 8.00 

Shed room, per acre lo.cx) 

'i'wine for hanging, per acre .50 

Total cost up to the time of taking down $96.25 

Cost oi taking down, stripping, assorting, packing and casing, on a basis of 1,500 

pounds per acre — about an average — at two and a half cents per pound 37-50 



58 THE TOBACCO GROWERS' GUIDE. 

Total expenses of raising one acre ■$^33-7S 

Cost per pound on a basis of 1,500 per acre .89 

If this estimate is worth anything, it shows that tobacco ni New 
York State can not be grown for less than nine cents a pound. By 
slack cultivation and careless handling, the tobacco grower may neglect 
manuring one of two seasoas, and produce it cheaper, at the expense 
of his land. 

To make a proper comparison between the east and the west on to- 
bacco raising, let us here introduce the reports of three successful Wis- 
consin tobacco farmers and in doing so have selected one from each of 
three different counties. While these reports show better average than 
the majority of our farmers obtain, they are not exceptional cases, and 
though much more startling figures could be produced these answer 
the purpose of comparison equally as well. 

1st. Mr. H. R. Hoag, Walworth, Walworth Co., makes the following 
report of his '84 crop recently sold: Sixteen acres were planted and 
harvested producing 24,353 fts., which was sold at 15 cents in the 
bundle. The total cash receipts for the crop were $3, 65 1.45. The cost 
ot growing and marketing the crop, every item of expense included, 
was ^65.20. The gross cash return per acre was ^228.15, leaving a net 
profit of ;^i 62.95. The cost per pound to raise this crop was four and 
two-tenths cents per pound. 

2nd. Mr. Ed Corcoran, of Dunkirk, Dane county, grew a field of 
seven and a half acres which yielded 12,512 pounds or 1,668 pounds 
per acre. The crop brought ;ig2,o64.48 or $275.26 for each acre of the 
field. The price obtained was sixteen and a half cents per pound. 
Mr. Corcoran enjoys the reputation of being a most careful grower, 
putting an unusual amount of labor and expense upon his crop. This 
he estimates to be $75 per acre or four and three tenth cents per pound. 

3rd. Mr. John A. Decker, residing near Janesviile, Rock Co., from 
eleven acres of tobacco grown by him the past season and sold at 
eighteen cents per pound, received jg2, 834.28, a yield of $2^^.66 per 
acre. Estimating interest on his farm at $500 per acre and manures 
purchased in Janesviile at high figures and every other expense that 
entered into the Cost of his crop, he figures the total at $75.00 per 
acre. In the way of supplement we might add that Mr. Decker's 
farm consists of seventeen and a half acres, including streets and build- 
ings, and from this place during the season has received in cash $3.- 
367.54. We are also prompted here to ask the question, how many 
farms think there are in the state controlled by one man that can show 
receipts equal to this report ? Is there another seventeen acre farm 
that can approach it? While the three cases above recited show cash 
receipts greater than the average tobacco farmer, they also show the 
cost of producing greater than the average. If Mr. Decker can grow 
tobacco on land valued at ^500 per acre, purchase his manures in a 
high marl*:t, and show figure* that places the cost below $75.00 per 



THE TOBACCO GKOVVEKS' GUIDE. 59 

acre, we are led to believe that the average farmer whose land is valued 
at ;^50 and less per acre, and who produces his own manures at a nom- 
inal cost, can reduce the cost far below this figure, varying perhaps, 
from 3 to 4 cents per pound. It is quite generally conceded, we think 
that a very large porportion of the tobacco of this state is produced at 
a cost not to exceed $50 per acre, and in some instances the expense 
is reduced to even $t,o per acre. Compare this with the table first pre- 
sented showing the cost in New York and other eastern states, and it 
can readily be seen what advantage Wisconsin tobacco growers really 
have over eastern competitors. From a recent issue of a Lancaster, 
Pa., paper, we clip the following which fully substantiates the position 
taken on the point : 

"Wisconsin has advantages over her eastern competitors that stand 
her in good stead. Her soil is deep, rich. Lancaster county farmers 
often put more money on an acre of tobacco in the shape of manure 
alone than it costs the average Wisconsin farmer to grow an acre. His 
land does not cost more than one-half what ours does, and in these two 
items alone he has advantages we here cannot overcome. When, 
therefore, the frosts of spring cease early and remain away until late in 
the fall the Wisconsin tobacco growers can undersell us. But other 
things may arise at any time to change all this and place our own 
growers more on an equality with the western ones." 

Wisconsin tobacco growers accept the situation cheerfully and take 
their chances upon any condition of things that is liable to change its 
inequality. 

COST OF GROWING TOBACCO IN ILLINOIS. 

James Ritzell, of Nora township, an experienced and successful 
grower has furnished the cost in labor of growing twelve acres of to- 
bacco The estimated cost per day was the price paid for extra labor 
hired, except in stripping and setting a small per cent, was hired for 
less than the amount estimated. Manual labor at ;$i.OO per day and 
JS2.50 per week for board, and team work at ^1.25 per day including 
board. Mr. Ritzell informs us he has always raised 1 ,000 pounds or 
more per acre. 

LABOR FOR MAN. 

2 (lays preparing seed bed $ 2 00 

10 days wedding plants lo 00 

10 days hauling manure lo 00 

7 days plowing ground 7 00 

5 days harrowing, marking, preparing 5 ^^ 

29 days setting plants 29 00 

ly^days cultivating 17 5° 

9^ days hoeing 9 5° 

Sj^days topping and worming 8 50 

68j^days harvestjng 68 50 

41 days taking down, stripping, and baleing 41 00 

8 days hauling to market ^ 8 00 

216 days manual labor $ 216 00 



6o THE TOBACCO GROWE-RS' GUIDE. 



LABOR FOR TEAM. 

8 days hauling manure $ lo oo 

7 days plowing 8 75 

5 days harrowing, marking, preparing 6 20 

13 days cultivation 16 25 

1 1 ^days harvesting 14 37 

8 days hauling to market 10 00 

52^days for team work $ 65 62 

34j/^weeks' board 85 83 

Total $ 367 45 

Cost of labor per acre 30 62 

Received for 12,500 pounds of tobacco at 10 cents per pound $ 1,350 00 

Cost of labor and board 367 45 

Total, net $ S82 55 

Net per acre 73 54 

Rent of land, cost of manure, and rent of shed to be taken from 
^73.54 per acre, will give the net income of the crop. We think the 
shed as a shelter for stock will pay a good interest on the investment, 
and the manure will give quicker returns used on a tobacco crop than 
any other. Everyone can draw their own conclusion. 

PROSPECTS OF AN OVER PRODUCTION OF THE TOBACCO CROP. 

Doubtless many of the readers of this Pamphlet have often been 
tempted to ask this question: If tobacco growing is really as profita- 
ble as the figures often presented in these columns would seem to in- 
dicate, will not the farmers throughout the whole state and northwest 
rush into tobacco, and will there not be an over production and prices 
drop to an unprofitable figure. There are several reasons why we 
think there is no immediate danger of such a calamity, some of which 
we will present. 

I St. Wisconsin tobacco has an excellent reputation. Manufacturers 
have learned that it is the best cigar-wrapping tobacco grown, and the 
trade consequently must buy it. It has one virtue which no other state 
tobacco possesses in so high a degree, viz: — it burns well — and without 
this quality no tobacco, however fine its flavor, is mapketable. What- 
ever other evils it may possess, it has never yet been charged that 
Wisconsin did not burn well. We have a reputation now gained that 
will sell our tobacco for years if we are careful to preserve it by im- 
proving the varities grown and the methods of handling. 

2d. We can grow tobacco here so much cheaper than our eastern 
competitors, that we can continue to raise tiie weed in Wisconsin at a 
profit when they have been frozen out of the business and retired. We 
have great confidence that Wisconsin is destined to become the largest 
tobacco growing state in the union. When we have crowded out the 
East, we can double and trible our product without any danger of over 
production. Already the Conn. Valley farmers talk of retiring because 
of slow sale and unprofitable prices. 



THE TOBACCO GKOWKKS' GUIDE. 6 1 



3d. The secrets of successful tobacco growing cannot be trans- 
mitted by word or mouth Hke those of the Masonic or Odd Fellow 
order ; they must be learned by actual experience and often by expen- 
sive experiments. The shiftless, lazy or careless farmer need not ex- 
pect to become a successful tobacco raiser for he will make a miserable 
failure of it if he tries. It needs brains, it needs untiring energy and 
activity, and above all it needs men who can adapt themselves to cir- 
cum.stances and learn and profit by experience; men who read and 
keep posted on markets and information pertaining to their business 
to make tobacco growing profitable farming. 

4th. History shows that many who start in at tobaco growing make 
a failure, become disgusted and fall out by the wayside. In 1881, 
prices were high; farmers everywhere caught the craze and the follow- 
ing season there was an increase of nearly 3000 acres in the state. The 
season of '82 proved a partial failure, and the crop of '83 was less than 
that of '81. The high prices of '83 when sales were made at 25 cents 
per lb. caused a relapse of the craze, so to speak, and again last season 
the acreage increased nearly 4000 acres. We believe that the crop of 
'85 will show a further increase of over 5000 acres. So that it will be 
seen that a partial failure or low prices act as a sort of check upon an 
over production. In ten years the tobacco section of the state has 
hardly extended beyond a strip of country 40 miles across. It will take 
another ten years before tobacco can become a general farm product. 

5th. New beginners have no reason to expect they will receive as 
satisfactory prices as the old and more experienced grower who has 
attained a reputation by years of hard labor. It is the skill and pains- 
taking effort of the grower that tells when the crop is marketed. The 
wide varation of prices is oftener due to the difference of men in hand- 
ling them than any other reason. Buyers tell us that surely over 10 
per cent, of the tobacco is ruined hj careless or ignorant handling, 
even in the old districts. What the reputation of our state needs more 
than an increase in the number of growers is men who will bestow 
more care, time and attention to perfecting the methods they now put 
into practice. It can truly be said that tobacco culture is one of the 
fine arts of agriculture and patience, perseverence and care are the three 
graces which lead to success. 



l'B D '05 



